It's Been a Long Time… Does Jesus Still Want Me?
It's Been a Long Time… Does Jesus Still Want Me?
Friends, we recently went through two very difficult years. We lost my nephew under tragic circumstances. Both my wife and I lost our fathers. Her father died after a painful three-year medical ordeal. During that time we dealt with COVID and the disruptions that it caused in our careers.
I will confess to you, that during that time, we were not able to attend church in person so much. I can also say that my personal faith walk was challenged and I did not always read my Bible or pray as faithfully as I should have – every day. In fact, I'd say there were times, I went multiple days without reading or praying. In hindsight, it's embarrassing. I know that we are all born into a world at war, spiritually speaking. We have to prepare to meet the threat each and every day by putting on our spiritual armor as told in Ephesians 6. As a former soldier, I understand the importance of not entering the battlefield unprepared without the appropriate armaments, defensive tools, and gear. If the physical battlefield determines our fate on this earth, then a spiritual battlefield has implications for both this life and where we spend eternity. My embarrassment stems mostly from failing to do what I should have done, despite knowing better, in a far more important conflict.
I also noticed that sometimes my embarrassment over my sin prompted me to avoid returning to reading and praying. And isn't that true when we sin in other areas too? When we lie, swear, fail to keep a commitment, or some other sin that we knowingly commit… don't we feel embarrassed? I can certainly attest to that feeling of shame. But let's examine God's Word to us about this. In the apostle Paul's letter to the church in Rome (Romans) we find in Romans 8:1, " There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." For those who are Christians, there is no condemnation from God. We are still his children. And most importantly, we are still saved. God has known all along everything we would think, say, or do long before Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins. And knowing that, Jesus went anyway. He knew our sins and he went anyway. Stop and let that sink in. There's no new sin we commit that Jesus would be surprised by. There's no sin we commit that Jesus checks against his ledger to see if that sin was paid for on the cross. The simple explanation is that Jesus' death on the cross means he took all of mankind's punishment for all sins for all time upon himself and paid that penalty for all time. There are no further messiahs to come to sort of catch up on the sin penalty payments. No topping off of the well of forgiveness.
Jesus. Paid. It. All. We cannot out-sin the depths of Jesus' forgiveness.
To be sure, that does not give us a license to go on sinning. Paul also explains in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? " (ESV)
We will not be fully and finally sanctified until we rise again with perfected bodies and minds, purged of all sin. So in the meantime, we still have to contend with our sin and pride. Our pride would like to puff us up, tell us we are perfect, and have us usurp God's place on the throne. It's that same pride that prevents us from admitting our sins and returning to God. After all, if our pride tells us we are God & perfect – how could we have committed a sin? We must confess our sins and in doing so, that helps put to death our pride that compels us to sin. And in doing so, God welcomes us with open arms.
Let's consider two amazing examples of the power of forgiveness in the Bible.
In Psalm 51, we find a song of confession, praise, and worship from David written after he committed adultery and murder. David was considered to be a man after God's own heart. And we find that while David did experience the consequences of his sins, God's love did not depart from him or negate God's promises to him. See what David wrote in Psalm 51:17 (ESV),
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Did you catch that, God doesn't despise or condemn us when we repent and confess our sins?
Another example told by Jesus himself details how a son sinned against God and his father but was welcomed back into the family when he repented and returned. Read the words from Jesus himself as told in Luke 15:11-32.
Notice the father ran to the young man to embrace and protect him. The father did not require the prodigal son to clean up, give to charity, or anything else as a prerequisite before extending his love and forgiveness. The prodigal son changed his heart and repentance (to turn around) was what the father was looking for.
So in closing, do not be discouraged when you sin. Do not even allow yourself to become discouraged if you find you have sinned but part of you wants to keep on sinning. That is your sinful nature and pride exerting itself. Pray for a renewed spirit, just as David did when he wrote in Psalm 51:12 (ESV)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
If you have already committed yourself to Christ, come back. If you haven't; confess, repent, and welcome back into God's love. Most importantly, come back. God is patiently waiting for you to heed the call.
