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March 22, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
East from West, by Warren Baldwin
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his
love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:11-12).
This verse is a cool drink of grace for someone sweating under the
intense heat of sin. It is freeing for someone struggling under the
oppressive weight of guilt. It is refreshing, like a gust of cool air,
for someone suffocating from shame and embarrassment.
How far is the east from the west? Well, that can't be calculated. The
distance is impossible to measure. Not only is the east far from the
west, it runs in a different direction, meaning the two can never meet.
"East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet"
(Kipling, "The Ballad of East and West").
That means that when God removes our sin, it is so far away from us it
can never entangle and ensnare us again. It is gone and traveling in an
opposite direction from us. Never shall we meet that sin again.
Of course, we will likely sin again. That is why we keep a penitent
heart. That is why we keep crying out, "Lord, forgive me (us)." In his
kindness God keeps forgiving! "He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10). In his grace
he removes our sin as far away from us as the east is from the west.
There is another angle to this verse. In the original language of the
Old Testament the word for "from us" also means "from himself" -- i.e.,
God has removed the sin from us personally and from our relationship
with him, as well (Holladay, "Psalms Through 3,000 Years," p.325). So,
not only does God remove our sin "from us," he also removes it from
himself. Our forgiven sin is as far from God as the east is distanced
from the west. Our forgiven sin is completely and irrevocably removed
from God's presence. Do you realize how powerful that reality is?
God can remove your sin!
Now there is a good reason for guilt. Guilt is the realization that we
are sinners. It can be the motivating factor that drives us to our
knees before a trusted friend to pour out our hearts. It is the driving
force behind our cry for mercy before the throne of God. Guilt moves us
back to God and opens the door for our sin to be forgiven and hearts
cleansed. But once we have poured out our hearts to a Christian brother
or sister and to God, guilt has served its purpose. The sin behind the
guilt has been sent east as we travel west. We need to send our shame
packing with it. If we don't trust God to remove our guilt from us, it
can become toxic and become personal shame.
Personal shame is a constant companion to many. Shame is the feeling
that deep down inside ourselves we are much more sinful, evil, and
despicable than the image we cast to the world outside ourselves. When
we aren't honest with God and others about our guilt, shame begins to
destroy us. Shame is what causes us to turn our head and avoid eye
contact. It is what makes us cry in private rather than share our sin
and pain with someone else lest they reject us. Shame is that feeling
that we are dirty and will never be good enough for ourselves, others,
or God. Shame is not trusting God to forgive us and cleanse us of our
guilt. Shame is one of the most potent self-destructive secret
attitudes.
Because of shame, a husband could not look his wife in the eye and beg,
"I am sorry for my sin, please forgive me." He left her instead. Shame
caused an abused 14 year old girl to abort her baby and begin a run of
dangerous relationships for ten years. Shame drove a young drug addict,
whose baby ate some of her drugs, to the brink of insanity because of
her irresponsibility.
I wish I could go back to all three of these people and say, "Hey,
guess what! God can remove your sin. And with that, he can remove your
guilt. When he removes it from you, he also removes it from his
presence. That means God welcomes you into his presence. There is not
one sin, not one bad decision, not one instance of abuse that you have
suffered, that has to keep you from the loving compassion of God."
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our
transgressions from himself."
That means we can lift our heads, look God in the eye, and say, "Thank
you!" It means we can live again, without the shame!
---------
(c) 2008 Warren Baldwin.
RELATED LINKS:
* The Freshness of Forgiveness
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200612/20061229_freshforgiveness.html
* Am I Beyond God's Forgiveness?
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200007/20000711_forgiveness.html
* Forgiveness
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060520_forgiveness.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200803/20080322_eastfromwest.html
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