Have you ever done something that you just can't wipe from your memory? Maybe you got mad and said some things that devastated someone else's life. Perhaps you did something terrible to yourself or someone else and no matter how much you come before God and ask forgiveness again and again, you just can't forget it - and it plagues you.
You feel as if you are not worthy to be a Christian and worry about seeing those people you hurt in heaven and it weighs on you so much that it ruins your relationship with God.
If that, or something like it, has happened to you, I have good news. Here in this fallen world we deal with the consequences of our actions. But one day, God will "wipe away every tear" as it says in the book of the Revelation. God has dealt with our sins and separated them "as far as the east is from the west."
But even more than that, read Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create."
Take a deep breath and realize that God not only made things right through Jesus, he will wipe them from existence in the new creation. Move ahead in your relationship based on that assumption. Live in that freedom. It's not freedom to continue to do bad, it's freedom to live an extravagant love relationship with God now and let his life flow through your life to others, showing them the same forgiveness and love God shows you.
I wonder too if we might not start to employ this same grace in our relationships with others. What would life be like if we extended not only forgiveness to those that hurt us, but also forgetfulness of the whole affair?
Pastor Tom
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2 comments:
Wonderful and encouraging post. Thank you.
Blessings from Costa Rica
Pastor Tom: Great post. Imagine what we would be like if we were as gracious with others as Jesus is with us...what a witness that would be.
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