Forgiveness! How splendid that God forgives us! For in forgiving us God “sends away” the guilt of sin so that it is no more. Guilt goes as a scapegoat, and in our guilty place, far into the wilderness to be seen no more, to die, to be…no more. The glory of God shines brighter than every sun and star of heaven in that miserable thing that is… no more.
Do you know this—the forgiveness of God? Great was the day I knew it, you knew it. Great are the days we know it. Every day, all the days since first forgiven. Ours are days of forgiveness. Our life is the forgiven life. And there is peace with God. And the power of an endless forgiven life. What else, really, do we need to know?
Forgiveness is better than any other thing God provides. God the creator is God the provider. In great power, revealing pure goodness, and in all wisdom God provides. But this is not forgiveness. Providence is the care and guidance of God. But life given, nurtured, a home, a job, money coming in, sun shining, parents who care, friends who say we can do no wrong, and music we rock to or cry to….is not to be forgiven. Having all the stuff, whatever the best, there is still guilt. And with the guilt is the burden of sin, the shame. A soul convicted its Maker is not pleased. An inner man empty. Purposes and plans…what for? Sinners sure though in denial of a day, called day of judgment when they and their world will be broken to pieces.
Provided for. Yet guilty. Until God provides the Christ. In him, through him and his blood, and his prayers on our behalf, and his Spirit, word, and grace alone…there is forgiveness.
The many splendored thing.
Let us know forgiveness. Rejoice for it and in it.
And go the way of the forgiven. Forgiving.
For God’s sake. For sinners’ sakes. For your sake. Forgive.
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