Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
The early morning is one of my favorite times of the day. The house is quiet. The coffee is freshly brewed. My mind is rested and ready to receive. My attitude is typically renewed for the day and my spirit is open. This is when I love to open the Word of God and hear from Him. “Morning by morning He wakens me to listen as one who is taught.” Isaiah 50.4. The sweetness of this time alone with God often carries me through the day.
As sweet and encouraging as this time is, it is also not unusual for thoughts associated with the sins of my youth to come to mind. The darkness of my heart is exposed and my mind races back over particular sins I have committed against others in my distant past. As a young man, I made many decisions that hurt others, even people I didn’t know. Innocent strangers were harmed by my youthful ignorance, arrogance and selfish disregard. Anything for a laugh or a thrill. Truly I can say that I do not long to be young again. I was such a disgrace to my friends, my family and my Lord. When the quietness of the morning brings these memories back, sadness and remorse set in.
Only a Father who truly loves us can address such evil in our bones. He alone has both the authority and ability to forgive the penitent soul. I can see no reason for Him to forgive such sins other than His pure love for his creation. Just as we long for our children to “forget what lies behind and press on toward the upward call in Christ Jesus our Lord”, so also our Father makes it clear that He is willing and able to forgive the sins of our youth and continue to abide with us as we age.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103.12
“You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7.19
“I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.” Isaiah 43.25
These promises are difficult to fathom whenever we are truly open and honest with the blackness of our own heart. It is hard to receive such overwhelmingly good news. As we reflect on our past, the sins pile up and the weight on our shoulders is great. Yet, as the hymn so beautifully states, “Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.” It is hard to believe, but life changing if we do.
How does one survive this banal existence without such a promise? How can a man live outside of the forgiveness of God? It is the mystery of evil. It is the deceptive darkness of sin. Thank God He has cleansed our souls of every sin through the faithfulness of His Son and His sacrifice on the cross.
“For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.” Hebrews 12.2
The Joy is ours as well.
Praise the Lord.
Ventanas 