The other day after a one of our church services a person was telling me how they had been out working in their yard, not really thinking about a whole lot, when something reminded them of a person they knew back in the day. They laughed as they thought about some of stupid things they had done with this person. But then their thoughts starting wandering into things that were not so laughable. The person looked at me and said,
“Most of the people I have had as friends are no longer in my life. I feel like almost every relationship I’ve had has fallen apart. The truth is, I have made a lot of mistakes. I know I’ve hurt people. But I’ve been hurt too. Many of those people have done things to me that were wrong!”
I could see the hurt and brokenness in their face, and at the same time sense anger and bitterness in their words. I paused for a minute, then asked if they had asked God to forgive them for things they had done wrong in those relationships. They said they had. I asked if they had forgiven those who had hurt them. Again, they said they had. But something was missing.
This person, like so many of us who are believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ, do not live with the freedom of knowing that our sins are truly forgiven. When we think about various mistakes and sins in our past, or maybe something recently we’ve said, done, or a behavior we’ve indulged in repeatedly, it seems difficult to believe that we can be forgiven. Paul evidently felt the same way,
“My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (Ro 7:20-25, The Message)
When theologians describe God’s greatness they use words like omniscient or omnipotent. Those are true descriptions, but Psalms describes God this way,
“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Ps 86:5)
“As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.”
(Ps 130:4, The Message)
In other words, what makes God great to us who follow him is his willingness and power to forgive, no matter what we’ve done or how often we’ve done it. When the memories come of past failures, sins, and fractures that we’ve caused, or things that have been done to us, or where we are currently falling short, we can rest fully in the greatness of our God, who is rich in mercy and always ready to forgive.
Remember this the next time you’re out doing yard work, and you start reminiscing.
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