A STUMP, A MERRY-GO-ROUND, & FORGIVENESS

When I look outside from my study window, I can see reminders of what has been. One reminder is a stump from a tree that was recently removed from the north side of the church. The stump is so fresh that the color of the wood has not begun to fade. If I had the desire, I could even count the rings from my office (with the help of a pair of binoculars).

The second reminder, however, is not so vivid. In fact, I’ve never seen what was there ... but I’ve been told about it. If you know where to look, you can see a circle in the grass where a merry-go-round once was. But, if you didn’t know where to look, I doubt you would ever notice it.

So, that explains the reference to a stump and a merry-go-round in the title, but what about forgiveness? Please bear with me as I explain the connection. We all have things, sins and mistakes in particular, in our lives that we would rather forget. Yet, past happenings have had an impact on our lives, and usually do leave a mark. Perhaps it is faded, like where the merry-go-round was, and few can see or remember what was there. Or, perhaps the mark is more fresh, like the stump, and the memory is painful and the ramifications are still evident. In either case, and as I’ve said several times before, “Satan reminds us of where we’ve been, but Christ reminds us of what He’s making us to be (See Rev. 12:10; Rom 8:29; 1 Jn 3:2).” Fellow Christian, I think we have a harder time moving on and forward than God does. When Satan reminds you of the marks of past mistakes and sins, remember and remind him of these verses:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (Psa 130:1-4 ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jo 1:9 ESV)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psa 103:11-12 ESV)

If you are a child of God, you may bear the marks of past sin, but remember, you also bear the mark of Christ, which says, “Forgiven!”
In His grip,
Pastor Decker