Pray it Off 03/01/2012 East to West by Casting Crowns

As Far as the East is from the West

by Esther Ward

20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 1 John 3:20-21

Even knowing all things about us, Our Merciful God, does not condemn us. He forgives us. I’m reminded how hard it is sometimes to forgive ourselves. We will forgive others and be loving, kind, and compassionate towards them, but often times we don’t extend this same grace to ourselves.

Having confidence towards God, means we trust that He has forgiven us, and in so doing we forgive ourselves, because He already has, and is our example to follow. As we see in 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; old things have passed away; behold, ALL things have become new.” That’s a promise worth holding onto! He also tells us “As far as the East is from the west, so has He removed our transgressions from us.” Ps 103:12 Our sins are to be remembered no more!

If God doesn’t remember them, or condemn us for them; why do we continue to condemn ourselves? If we can forgive the sins of others, why not our own? Isn’t it time to give our past up to Him, sins and all, and accept that forgiveness He has so graciously bestowed upon us? Let’s cast our past sins upon Him; and watch them be scattered to the east and west as we move into the new life He has promised us, and remember them no more.