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 How
can I deal with past mistakes?
Let's face
it. We all mess up. We all do things we shouldn't. Tell lies.
Steal office supplies. Say things we're sorry about later. Spread
bad rumours. Swear at other drivers. And we all carry attitudes.
We think we're better than others and often care only for ourselves.
All of these
wrong actions, harsh words and bad attitudes are what the Bible
labels as sin. Now that's not a pleasant word to hear nowadays.
We'd all like to think we're pretty good people. Yet it's our
human nature to sin. To go our own way. To do our own thing. No
matter how good we think we are, our sin stands between us and
God. All people fall short of his perfect standard (Romans 3:23)
and this keeps us from personally knowing God's love. The great
Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi said, "It is constant torture
to me that I am still so far from God whom I know to be my very
life and being. I know it is my own wretchedness and wickedness
that keeps me from him."
There is good
news though. Jesus has taken care of our sins. His death on the
cross some 2,000 years ago paid for the penalty of our sin, just
so we could have a right relationship with God and experience
his love. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven of all our shortcomings,
our mistakes, our sins. He alone can pardon us, and fulfil God's
justice.
Think of it
this way. A young woman is given a speeding ticket and goes before
a judge. After the charge is read, he gives the sentence. A $150
fine. But the woman is unable to pay. Then the judge, in an unusual
move, comes down from the bench, opens his wallet and offers to
pay the fine. It's up to the woman to accept or reject the generous
offer. The story illustrates what Jesus has done for us. He knows
our sin, yet when we stand humbly before him, he is willing to
forgive our debt completely. Jesus offers us his free gift of
grace. We just need to accept and receive it.
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