Any person studying the New Testament will come to know, appreciate, and love the many parables it contains. I have attempted to come up with my own – though I am quick to acknowledge my parables are obviously far more rudimentary. One of my attempts I call the Parable of the Boots.

To fully understand this story, you need a little background. In the decade known as the 90’s, there was a country singer by the name of Garth Brooks. He became such a big act that he ushered in a country music renaissance of sorts. You may or may not agree with that assessment but I rode that country western phase in the 90’s complete with wardrobe. I even bought myself a pair of bona fide boots. They were fancy and expensive. Probably the most expensive footwear I have ever bought. Then and now.

About this same time, I was also given a pair of boots. This second pair had a hole in the sole that needed fixed. This pair of boots cost me about $20, which was the price to fix the sole. If I had bought the boots from the shelf without the defect, they would have cost me about the same as my first pair of boots.

Forward a few years later, the first pair were getting a bit small for me but the second pair were a little bigger and still fit.

When the country wave was over and I downsized my closet, I no longer needed two pairs of boots. I gave away one pair but kept one as a souvenir of my country phase. Which pair of boots did I get rid of and which one did I keep?

I kept the first pair even though they were now a little small. I have not been able to fit my foot in this pair of boots for several years now and really should just give them away. For reference, since the second pair was a size bigger, I probably would be able to still wear them today if I had kept them.

Why did I keep the first pair? It wasn’t the value. At the store, they were of similar value. The determining factor was the amount I paid for the boots. Because I paid full price for the first pair, I placed a greater personal value on them. I only paid $20 for the second pair which devalued them in my estimation.

There has been a great price paid for each of us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The price is already paid we just need to utilize it in our life. There are some who think they are outside the bounds of Christ’s Atonement. They think it applies to everyone else but them. Because they need to use it too often or too deep it can’t possibly be meant for them.

That is actually quite the opposite of how it works though.

The person that learns to use the Atonement of Christ often and for the misnomer ‘more serious’ sins will gain a deeper level of understanding of the Atonement and how it works. I call it a misnomer because we are the ones that have come up with this hierarchy of personal sins. Don’t get me wrong, anything that hurts another person or robs another person of their agency is actually higher on that pyramid. But we tend to rank our own sins such as telling a “little white lie” versus embezzling from work. Which one would you rank as the more serious sin? Exactly.

Keep in mind, no unclean thing can dwell with God so that means everyone – everyone – should be using the Atonement of Christ often and gaining a deeper level of appreciation and understanding. The value does not change, it is simply the greatest gift any of us will receive. It’s already there. What will make a difference is how much we personally recognize the value.

In Luke chapter 7, we read about a woman who recognized Christ and His power to make her clean. With her tears, she washed His feet; with her hair she wiped them; and she did kiss His feet (verses 36-38). This led to a parable in verses 41-43 in which He described two debtors whose debts were both forgiven. Out of the two debtors, which one would appreciate the loan forgiveness most? The one with the most debt, of course. The one that recognized the value.

There is no person who is outside the bounds of the Atonement of Christ. We all need it. We all have access to it. But those who recognize the value will be those that will keep it in their lives by utilizing it often.

Just like an old pair of boots.