In the years God has blessed me to work with people, I have come to see the enemy holding believers down and deceiving them into believing God can’t possibly forgive them and they will always be defined by what they did in the past.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say:

"I can’t be used by God because _________."
"I can’t serve at church.  Don’t you know I used to _______."
"I can’t have any joy because I did _______________."

It’s hard to live like the redeemed when you keep forgetting you’re redeemed!  The Bible really does say, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)  But the enemy doesn’t want you to believe that …or live like you do!  In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren.”  His accusations are an assault meant to keep you from doing all God wants to do and to keep you from living free from guilt and shame.  Satan wants us to believe that the blood of Jesus is not enough to remove that sin from our lives.  What a liar.  I know he’s a liar because he lied to me.  Maybe you don’t have any big regrets.  However, I do.  I’ve laid awake many nights over something I’ve said or done.  Anybody else?

How can we be free from that choking, heavy burden and live life abundantly?  Is it possible?  It is possible - but only in the light of the cross.  “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)  I read those words, yet why is it so easy to tell others that God has forgiven them and so hard to accept it myself?

This I know:  Without God, I am nothing but a heap of tears and regrets, but because of the cross I am forgiven.  Completely, forever forgiven!  Because of Jesus my sins (the old ones and the new ones) are removed as far as the east is from the west.   This I know:  You have not out-sinned God’s ability to forgive you, and shame is never a place our Father wants you to live.  Don’t allow the enemy to hold you down and keep you from serving God!  Instead, be grateful for the grace you have received, be deliberate to praise your Father… and serve Him!                                               This I know:  What the enemy intended for evil in your life, God most certainly wants to use for good. (Genesis 50:20)  There is nothing impossible for Him! (Matthew 19:26)  Remember, none of us are perfect.  That’s why we need a Savior!  In the words of Martin Luther, “We are all beggars showing other beggars where to find bread.”

So, let’s go show them!

Tom