Waist Deep 2018 - May 26

Psalm 130: 3 If you, O lord, kept a record of sins, O lord, who could stand? (NIV)

We cannot justify ourselves before God, or plead Not guilty.*

What! God doesn’t have a record of my sins? Does that mean that the only reminder he has of my past transgressions is when I bring them up? I can’t seem to forget that the sin God forgave me for yesterday is the same one he forgives me for today. I think it would bother me less if I just picked out a “sin of the day” for the sake of variety. I am thankful for God’s forgetfulness. When I say, “I’m sorry,” he forgives and forgets. I don’t have to wait for him to “get over it” or “work it out.” He doesn’t nurse a grudge, wallow in his hurt, or try to get even. He doesn’t question my motives or doubt my sincerity.

I am a forgiving sort myself. When someone wrongs me, I tend to get over it and go on with my life. But what I forget and what I remember seems to be completely out of my control. God – who knows everything – can’t even remember the sins he’s forgiven me for. Who could do that but an almighty God? Only God has the love and the power to forgive and forget. Why can’t we accept that we don’t have to carry the burden of our sin? Do we not believe his grace is sufficient? If it’s not, we don’t stand a chance!

With a biblical appreciation of God’s wrath, salvation becomes an object of joyful surprise and unending wonder. Instead of questioning how a loving God could condemn people to Hell, we find ourselves surprised that a good God is letting any of us into Heaven.*