I have been wrong about a great many things in my life, in particular, how I should be living as a Christian. For far too long I have been caught up in the doom and gloom of my sins, never taking into account that as a believer, I should live a life of rejoicing for the Savior has covered my sins. I went back and looked at all the articles I have written and there is a recurring theme; I wasn’t sure I had been forgiven because in my mind, my sins were so great. That all changed yesterday thanks to a sermon I listened to via pod cast.

R. C. Sproul has a show called, “Renewing Your Mind” that I like to listen to when I’m out and about going about my daily routine. Yesterday he had a lesson entitled, “Guilt and Forgiveness,” which I highly recommend listening to. At any rate, he made a point that I never had considered before. The thing that was causing me to be so down all the time. Arrogance.

While we still have to live with the consequences of our actions, we should rejoice that there is forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I’ve been subconsciously thinking that his sacrifice wasn’t enough, giving the devil a foothold in my mind to make me feel the guilt and shame of my past, replayed over and over again. No more. I’m tired of living that way. I’m tired of never feeling good enough, or that my sins haven’t been forgiven. It was like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I can’t tell you what a relief it was to know that I don’t have to walk around with my head down living in constant shame. It made me think of a hymn that we sing in church.

“I’m trading my sorrows,

I’m trading my pain,

I’m laying them down, for the joy of the Lord.”

What beautiful words to hear! So as of this day forward, I will live as a man covered in God’s forgiveness through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. I no longer have to live with a cloud of gloom hovering over me, and I don’t have to live as if the world is constantly coming to an end. There is power in the blood, wonderful healing power, and we are blessed to be able to experience it.