“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
I was softly listening to the radio this morning, enjoying the quiet of the house and patter of rain outside the window…a perfect day for baking. I don’t remember the specific song but the words being sung allowed my mind to travel to the day when I stand before God on Judgment Day and will have to give an account of my life – all that I’ve done and not done.
In the past when I’ve thought about this topic, it’s always been with fear. I’ve talked many times about my perception of God being a Judge, ready to punish me for all the sinful thoughts, actions, etc. that I’ve committed over the years. The Bible even tells us in Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (NIV)
However, this time my thoughts didn’t stay there. I envisioned walking forward and actually seeing the God of the Universe seated on a huge throne in front of me. Suddenly I was overwhelmed and spoke with tears streaming down my face: “God, I’m so sorry for all those times I didn’t speak up because I was embarrassed or didn’t want people to make fun of me. I chickened out of sharing Your love with someone because of what they may think or I might be accused of being a ‘goody-goody.’ I claimed to love You with all my heart and I told You repeatedly I would do anything for You, but I failed You more often than not.”
Head hanging down, kneeling in front of my Daddy, I continued to cry.
God ever so gently took His hand and lifted My face so I could see into His eyes. “My child, I didn’t ask you to be perfect. I asked you to love Me with your whole heart. Every time you loved others, you loved Me.”
My mind slowly drifted to the many times I had listened and allowed Him to speak His love to others through my hands and feet: baking banana bread for a friend who only asked for the recipe; giving another loaf away as a thank you to another as a way of saying ‘your help was so appreciated;’ Hershey kisses in lunch boxes; an encouraging email to a discouraged friend; financial help or hand-me-down clothes when budgets and unexpected expenses stretch the meager income too far.
While the above verse is true and we will have to stand before God someday and explain why we did (or didn’t do) certain things, those who call God “Daddy,” have an advantage. Jesus stands in between God and us, saying, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV) Because we accepted Jesus into our heart and became a bone fide member of God’s family, our sins are erased, remembered no more. I can stand boldly before God with Jesus as a barrier between my sin and God. I am free from the condemnation and guilt that would come from having my sins laid out in front of me.
Even though this conversation only occurred inside my head, I know that someday I will be standing before God. My imagination gave me something to think about. I know that I’ll continue to make mistakes and disappoint God with my actions, but I pray that I will begin to care less about what others might think of me and instead keep the higher perspective of showing God’s love to others every chance I get.
© Cheri Swalwell 2014