“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12
When you’ve something wrong, how far do you want to get away from it?
Different kids react differently when they get caught doing something wrong. One of the reactions I find most interesting is the run. You know what I mean. You walk in and the child is doing something he knows he isn’t supposed to do and as soon as he sees you…
He runs!
I don’t know where the child thinks he is going that can escape the consequence that’s coming. He may not even know. What he does know is that he wants to get away.
Maybe you know the feeling…wanting to get away.
The problem is that you are dealing with God and, as an adult, you know there is nowhere to run. Here’s how David puts it:
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” – Psalm 139:7-12
Never-the-less, sometimes people do try to run. Have you? Sure you may not physically run, but maybe you avoid church, avoid prayer, and avoid the Bible. You avoid God.
What if I told you that you were running from the wrong thing.
When a child runs from their parent they aren’t really trying to get away from the parent. They are trying to get away from the guilt and punishment. Here’s the thing.
The way to get away from guilt and punishment of sin is to run TO God.
It is God who removes your guilt by removing your sin.
How far?
As far as the East is from the West. East and West move infinitely apart. That’s how far God removes your sin, infinitely far. It’s gone and so is your guilt and shame. It’s not because you got away from God, but because you turned to Him in repentance. As David says in another Psalm:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;” – Psalm 32:1-6
Heavenly Father,
I pray that I would never run from You when I feel the guilt of my sin. For I know that You are relief and You are my salvation. Turn my heart to You in repentance that I may know Your Forgiveness.
(If you have anything you need to confess, this would be a great time.)
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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