As Far As The East Is From The West

September 9

Isaiah 3-5

Psalm 103:6-10

Proverbs 22:9-11

Ephesians 6:1-9

As Far As The East Is From The West

“Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  He will not always contend with us, and He will not keep His anger forever.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the Earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear Him.”  Psalm 103:8-13  LSB

I am convinced that one of Satan’s worst, and most successful, tactics is shame.  I’m not talking about repentance or remorse, but shame.  Satan wants us to believe that we can’t go to God because we are too bad.  He loves reminding us of all the things we have done in the past that make us unworthy.  Thankfully the criteria for coming to God is not that we have to be perfect or even “good.”  If that was the standard, none of us would ever be able to come before a holy and just God.  God sees us for who we are.  We can’t fool Him.  We are all filthy and wretched and incapable of cleaning ourselves up enough.  Our God is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”  God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to recognize that we are not perfect and understand that we need Him.  Those who come to God with a repentant and humble heart are welcomed with open arms.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9 LSB   He does not deal with us according to what we deserve, but He is loving and forgiving.  We deserve death and Hell, but those who believe in Him and call on His name receive eternal life. 

When He sees us, He does not see our sin and evil, but rather our sins are “removed as far as the east is from the west.”  They are no longer counted against us because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.  The debt is paid and we no longer stand condemned, but we stand washed in the blood of Jesus and covered with His righteousness.  “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1 LSB  The condemnation we feel for past sins is not from God.  They are Satan’s lies to keep us defeated and ineffective.  Do not let Satan place shame on you that God has already forgiven.  Walk in the freedom Christ purchased for you on the cross.  “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.  Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1 LSB   God is a loving Father who treats His children with compassion and gentleness.  No matter what we have done or how far we have strayed, He is always waiting to welcome us back.  As long as we have breath it is not too late to turn back to God.  Don’t let Satan convince you otherwise.