Christ Has Paid Our Bail Bond

I thought of an analogy that might help us to understand the Atonement and repentance and the Sacrament in a new way. Christ paid for our sins. We can find an example in everyday life of someone helping to pay for our crimes if we look at bail bonds. When someone is arrested, rather than stay in jail until their court date, they or someone who loves them can pay the court a certain amount of money, and as long as they appear at court on the appointed day, the money is returned. Christ has paid our bail bond. Because of His sacrifice, we do not need to be trapped always behind bars of guilt and shame and regret. We can imagine the Sacrament as being similar to our appointed court time. Just like if we were to not appear in actual court the bail bond would be forfeit, if we do not come to partake of the Sacrament then we have caused the price the Savior paid for our sins for that week to be lost. When we don't sincerely repent and come to church to partake of the Sacrament, we are telling the Lord that not only are we not grateful that He paid for our sins, but even worse, that we don't even care that His sacrifice is going to waste. Many of us would be sorely tempted to not forgive if we had to pay a steep bail and then lose all that money if our friend or loved one refused to appear at court. Christ does not give into such temptations. He is infinitely patient and understanding, and while it breaks His heart that we often show so little thought or empathy for the great price He paid, He understands that we are doing the best we can with the strengths and weaknesses and faith and doubts and love and fear and hate and hope that we have. But if we are struggling to find a reason to repent, we can think about the price Jesus paid, and how it will be forfeit if we do not repent and appear at church to partake of the Sacrament.