By Nick (My Experience As...)
So often we say we believe one thing, but live another. It’s easy to see in the “party Friday and Saturday but show up to church Sunday” Christians. I mean, come on, we have a great acronym for them, pfasbsutcs. So memorable isn’t it. We see it in some big ways in our own life. We say “reading the Bible and praying is important” but spend more time on Facebook than we do in the Book. I could go on and on, but instead of focusing on all that stuff, lets dig a little deeper.
I think we all struggle with living our belief that God is the biggest of the big. I mean, God is infinite, He is omnipotent, He is eternal, and there are literally no limits on Him. When, I was 16 we went on a trip to Montana. Back then they didn’t have speed limits, but there were limits. The sign said “safe and reasonable” but the police would pull you over and give you a reckless driving ticket if you went too fast. I had in my mind “no limits” and got kind of excited. Time to find out what this Dodge Caravan with a family of four and a ton of luggage can do. Then my dad explained the whole reckless driving thing and I ran into the limit.
I think we are looking for God’s limits. Can he really heal this disease? Can He actually reach my lost loved one? Is my sin too big for God?
That’s the big one. Right now you are thinking of that sin. Maybe it is some past thing, maybe it is this ongoing struggle, but you remember, and you feel guilty. The truth is, I know I am.
Actually it isn’t even a single sin, it is a whole multitude that will jump into my head. Things I did as a teen, things I struggle with now, and even things I worry about doing in the future. How crazy is that. I can struggle with forgiving myself for stuff I never did and may never do.
I know in my mind that God is bigger than my sin, that His grace is more than enough, but I find it difficult to live that belief; to let Him forgive me, because I struggle with forgiving myself.
I don’t like to spend a lot of time talking about satan. I believe he is real, and that he is active in attacking us. One of the titles given to him is “the accuser of the brethren.” Ladies, I believe sisteren is understood, he isn’t gonna leave you out, sorry. I believe a part of this is described in the book of Job. It talks about Satan going back and forth on the Earth looking for people to accuse, to bring their failures before God. I also believe that he is quite happy to keep throwing our failures in our face. Once we believe we are failures, he wins.
God isn’t happy to let us struggle in this on our own though. First, He tells us repeatedly we are forgiven. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive them.” 1 John 1:9.
More than that though, He has not left us alone. In John, Jesus is telling his disciples he will be leaving them, but that it is good for him to leave, because God will send another. This “other” is often called a counselor and a comforter. A counselor in a legal sense, one who represents us not in the “tell me how you feel” sense of the word. He is out advocate. When we are accused He stands up and says “Objection, this matter was addressed in the landmark case Jesus Christ v. the Empty Tomb.” He is also our comforter; He gives us peace and strength to forgive ourselves.
Next time you struggle with this personal unforgiveness, remember. You are forgiven. You are not alone. Then shout it out with the Holy Spirit. “I object!!!! I am forgiven and I no longer have to carry this burden!”
Nick is a husband and father to four children all of whom he loves dearly. He is also a youth pastor to over 50 students, a great writer and a whiz with computers. He has a fabulous blog where he shares his Experience as a Husband, Father, Youth Pastor, Geek and Jesus Freak. Be sure to go check it out.