April 2019
by Jim Elliff That dreaded day is upon us again, April 15th. When our American fathers stormed the Boston docks, threw out the British tea, and cried, “No taxation without representation,” they could not possibly have imagined what freedom from our mother country would bring. Untold treasure and opportunity, true. But we also have incurred the privilege of paying now over 50% of our income in taxes of an alarming variety. You work half of the year just to do that. Many of those taxes are forked over on that depressing 24-hour period called April 15th. Some might be inclined to pine away for the good old days. To illustrate, in
What if something different happened 1935 Roosevelt started our new Social on April 15th this year? What if, for once, Security program promising that it would you didn’t have to pay taxes on that day? take only 2% of our income. But here we None! are today, 15% deeper in. What if instead it became the day you I’m not fond of big government or stand before someone bigger than the quarterly checks to the IRS any more than IRS? What if it you are, but I can say “What if something different were the day you that I still enjoy the immense privileges happened on April 15th this die and stand of being in this year? What if, for once, you before God? Paying taxes country. The truth didn’t have to pay taxes on won’t seem like is, most people in that day?” such an unbearable America fare much burden on that day. In fact, you might be better than their forebears, and in a country happy to give everything you have, and that is still free and full of opportunity. We then some, just to return to your tax forms shouldn’t complain, even while we try to and calculator. Everything you owe God bring down the taxes to a more reasonable would come due in one moment. But, if level. Until that happens, however, April you have not settled accounts through 15th remains the worst day of the year.
Community Calendar
Testimony of God’s Grace
Page 6 & 7
Page 9
The Pain of Rejection
Page 15
Christ beforehand, it will be too late no matter what you offer. As Jesus said: What will a man give in exchange for his soul? The tax on living a sinful life before a holy God is eternity in hell. And it is a just tax, if ever there was one. It may seem like too much to you, but that is only because you have a low view of God and His standards. You have been good by comparison, you think. But you are comparing yourself to others like yourself, not to God. On the other hand, that day could be much better than all other days you have ever known—if your tax on life were paid by another. Christ came to do that, that
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