02/12/2023
Are we afraid to speak directly to God? Do we feel safer going to a deacon, an elder, or our pastor when we have sin issues in our lives? If you look inward and find that this is true of yourself, don't fear, there is nothing new in this... it has been happening since the time of our first sin. Men have been afraid to approach God in sin from the moment that Adam and Eve first hid themselves in the Garden of Eden, continued on to the time of Moses, and occurs today as well.
“And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”
Exodus 20:19-20 KJV
When we go to others with the great sins in our lives it feels less threatening. Facing God can feel intimidating when we have failed Him in some way. To bow before him and confess our sins and seek forgiveness is more than humbling... in our eyes it is baring our nakedness, and facing His disappointment in us. Yet, the interesting thing about our apprehension is that we think that by avoiding Him we are keeping our sins secret until we have somehow made them right through some action, or an intermediary... but this is untrue.
God knows all things and He knew your heart the moment before you sinned, and saw your transgressions as you committed them. There is nothing about you that He does not know, and yet He loves you even so.
“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”
1 John 3:20 KJV
I remember an incident following a high school football game when one of my sons went to a teammate's house. I knew before it happened that something wasn't right, and I knew as it was happening that something was amiss. Later, I found out that the parents had not been home and that the boys had thrown a party. I waited for him to come to me. Although I was disappointed in him, I still loved him, and the life lesson wasn't going to be that of me confronting him, or someone else telling me about it... but rather, in his coming to me of his own accord to talk to me about it… to confess it.
When he did come, I told him how disappointed I was and how I expected more of him. I left him to stew over this for a couple of days and each time I saw him I could see the downtrodden nature in him. When I finally knew that he was at the place of true regret, we sat down on the side of the bed in his room, and as I told him how much I loved him, and that he would always be my son... he apologized and promised he wouldn't do that again. After that time together, his demeanor changed immediately. The heavy load had been lifted.
Our relationship with the Heavenly Father is much the same. When we go to Him with our sins and transgressions He already knows we are coming, and he forgives us because we are His children... but we must want to be forgiven, and mere words are not enough... he looks into our heart and just as I could see the remorse and regret in my son, He can see the contrition in us. It must be there.
Once forgiven, we should trust in His complete forgiveness, just as my son trusted in mine. God separates our sin from us, and we should do the same within ourselves. Don't let your past sins destroy your joy in the Lord. He has forgiven you... now forgive yourself, and forgive others.
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”
Psalms 103:11-13 KJV
God forgives us so that we can return to a pre-sin state. He doesn't want us to drag a ball and chain around behind us. He wants His joy to return to our lives, and for us to live a refreshed, and righteous life. In the same way, we should want our forgiveness of others to restore our friendships, and the forgiveness of ourselves to give us back the self-assuredness that we had lost. Are we ready to forgive, and be forgiven?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 KJV
Prayer:
Father I thank you for your perfect forgiveness. I thank you for the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ; that the world would be reconciled unto you. Lord, I repent of my sins and confess them before you. I sit on the bed with you and tell you of my wayward life... even though you know what I am about to say. Father, I realize that my confession is for me; it allows me to relieve myself of the sins that you, through my repentance, are already forgiving me of... even before the words have left my lips. Dear Lord... lead me to forgive myself, and return to your peace and joy, and let me use your forgiveness as my guide in forgiving others.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
Rich Forbes