We all make mistakes. It’s easy to backspace or hit delete when typing. Sometimes, we even have to go old school and break out the correction tape/fluid to white it out. If only life was that way. I can think of too many things I’ve said or done that I’d like to erase!
But with each sin we commit over our lifetime, our “mistakes” add up and we become more and more indebted to God. Such spiritual debt cannot be corrected by earthly means though many try. Before a Holy God, we “become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NIV).
We cannot repay God with good behavior or by good deeds. “The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough” (Psalm 49:8 NIV). Without divine intervention, we would die in unimaginable debt. Then what?
“I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds…” (Revelation 20:11-12 NASB).
Can you imagine standing before this throne and having the book of your life opened, read aloud, and judgment rendered based on your “deeds”? It makes me tremble in shame to even consider my book.
But there is hope. There is a way out here and now.
“When you were dead in your transgressions…He [God] made you alive together with Him [Jesus], having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt [literally “a promissory note written in your own handwriting”] consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross” Colossians 2:13-14.
Visualize the ledger of your life consisting of your every thought and deed in the flesh. As you look down the countless entries of all you owe God yet cannot repay, you suddenly notice that each line is written in your own handwriting. This book is your unedited, all-inclusive autobiography.
But then you notice that by His grace for all who have trusted Christ as Savior, God has “canceled out” (literally “blotted out or washed away”) every single debt with the precious blood of Jesus! Not only did Jesus hang on the cross, but so did your “certificate of debt.”
Forgiveness is only a word away from your lips: “Jesus.” He did what you could never do. Just tell Him so and believe! Forgiveness is truly amazing, but there’s even more: although you were once dead in your sins, God “made you alive together with Him!” Easter! Resurrection! New life! Eternal life! That’s why we rejoice! That’s why we exclaim, “He is risen!”
Mistakes? Bring them to the cross of Christ. Only His blood can “white out” your sins.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NASB).
© 2013 Tim McKenzie – www.OnEveryWord.com