One real head-scratcher in the IRS code is why you lose the child tax credit when your child turns 17. I've now lost this credit three times. From my experience, kids' expenses go up the older they get. Apparently this code was written by someone who never had kids of their own. Someone who hates kids and their hard-working parents, but loves the perks of their government job ... and had to find a way to pay for their private insurance that we lowly citizens don't have access to. Ahh, the IRS. Don't you hate it? Always putting its sticky hands into your pocket to swipe your hard-earned cash.
Oh well, whatta ya gonna do? Tax collectors have been taking more than their fair share ever since taxes came into being.
Are all tax collectors evil? Probably.
But even dirty IRS agents aren't beyond the long arm of Jesus.
The following story is a small picture of Jesus' plan for underhanded tax collectors ... and the rest of us.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy (you're shocked, I'm sure). 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19) (I added the part in red.)
Little Zacchaeus and the bigger picture
Jesus is currently saving the world one sinner at a time.
When Jesus stops by your house, what will you do? Will you welcome Him gladly, like Zacchaeus did, even though he knew he was a sinner?
Will you welcome Jesus gladly regardless of what the mutterers and gossips will say? Because you know they'll say something. But that's not going to stop Jesus. Will their opinion and greasy words stop you?
Notice the immediate influence of Jesus on Zacchaeus' life (verse 8). He acknowledged his wrongs and sought to make them right. This is repentance in action. This is part of what happens when someone meets Jesus - change for the better.
I wonder what the mutterers said after Zacchaeus was transformed by Jesus? Doesn't really matter anyway. I'm sure the poor and those he had cheated were thrilled with Zacchaeus' new life.
I wonder what the mutterers said after Zacchaeus was transformed by Jesus? Doesn't really matter anyway. I'm sure the poor and those he had cheated were thrilled with Zacchaeus' new life.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And that day was Zacchaeus' day of salvation.
OK, maybe you're not a dirty pig-stealing IRS agent. But we're all lost without Jesus. And since He said He “came to seek and to save the lost,” He'll do just that.
All of us are lost without Jesus, and all of us will be saved by Jesus. It's basic math, not confusing IRS math.
If Jesus hasn't already saved you from your sin and set you free, He will.
All of us are lost without Jesus, and all of us will be saved by Jesus. It's basic math, not confusing IRS math.
If Jesus hasn't already saved you from your sin and set you free, He will.
Be ready. Your day will come.
