August 25, 2022
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
God’s perfect plan of salvation is so complete, that prophetic statements in His word are expressed as though they have already occurred in the past, even if they are yet future. But because His power is more than sufficient to save to the uttermost those who come to God through [Jesus] (Hebrews 7:25), we may—we must!—utterly rely upon Him. With His power in our lives, we are supernaturally enabled to overcome sin. Our future home in heaven with the Lord is a place of sinless perfection. Yet, the Holy Spirit speaks through Paul as though we are already living there:
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20
The salvation prophecy of our opening verse is clearly stated as though it had already happened. For the sinner whose heart is broken over his own sin, Psalm 103:12 is immensely comforting. We can truly and completely trust Him whose power to forgive is all-sufficient.
When sin happens, something stubbornly tangible is brought into existence. Sin has a sticky residue. If the sinner’s conscience is intact, there is the residue of guilt. There are often unintended consequences that come later; repercussions can take many forms, none of which are desirable. We may endeavor to calculate the effects of sin, but any such endeavor will fall immeasurably short of the reality. Only God knows the extent of sin’s harm.
The sooner we come to Jesus with confession of sin and the desire to turn away from it—the better! He loves us so much that He is anxious to forgive: to relieve us from the weight of guilt. The thankful heart cleansed from its guilt is on the springboard of a wholesome new way of living, under the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. The cleansing will be continual, step-by-step. And as we learn of the Savior, we will be on a path of learning to love others as He loves us. Go forth today, beloved, in the purity of His power at work in your life.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8