If you think that you are beyond saving, you are mistaken. There is nothing you can do that God cannot forgive! We’ve all made mistakes in life but in all this, God still loves us and simply waits for us to come to Him. With open arms, the Lord calls us by name. We may seem to be out of His reach but that is untrue. It is our own self that keeps us from being saved. If we but look to Christ and follow Him, our life would be much different. And here is how. Because Jesus was raised up on the cross, there is true forgiveness and mercy. Even a vile sinner, such as us, His blood can come over us and wash us clean. And what a blessing it is to know this and to experience it firsthand. I was as wretched as you could ever believe and God came to my rescue. He looked past all my faults and gave me another chance at life. It was Satan that tricked me into thinking that my years of looking at pornography could not be forgiven. It was also him that made me think that God hated me because of my adulterous affair, while married. And this did trouble me until my heart was broken. It was in all this brokenness that my life turned to God. I didn’t think it was possible for Him to forgive me but I wanted to tell Him firsthand how sorry I was. That because I did the unthinkable, I would understand if He never wanted to speak to me again. Tears streamed down my face as I was on my knees. In that moment, I had no idea how the Lord would react but how He did blew my mind.
As I was sitting there, awaiting my just punishment, a peace and warmth came over me. I didn’t understand what was happening and why. However, I knew that it was God coming into the room and casting out all my fear. That night I went to sleep, feeling that my life would be different. The next day, as I got into my car, the song, “Life Song”, by Casting Crowns, came on the radio and immediately it touched my heart. Then, I did something to know if it was God, that made me feel this way. I started speaking to God and asked Him to play the same song from my SD Card. And in that faith, I put it in and changed the input to it. And what happened next is unbelievable but true. That same song and time in the song started playing. It was then that I knew it was God. Then, out of nowhere, I heard in a still small voice, “Paul, your sins are forgiven”. What, I said? Is this really happening? You forgive me God? Wow, thank You Lord. And in that moment, tears of joy started streaming down my face. Surely, I will never understand God’s mercy but I know it was for a wretched person like me. Since that day, I am saved by the grace of God. I don’t deserve it but He loves me just the same. His mercy never fails! As Lamentations says, 1“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not,” I give thanks to God for giving me another chance. And if He can give me one, your life is never out of the question. God bless you and never stop seeking God.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, what a wonderful God You are. Oh, how merciful You are. Your compassion never fails. Thank You for waiting on me and never giving up hope. Though, I let You down so many times and forgoed my chances at forgiveness, You never gave up on me. I was far from You for many years but You were still waiting on me. It was in all my bitterness and shame that everything came crumbling down on me. I was broken and I needed saving. I didn’t think it was possible but needed to tell You sorry. At that moment, I thought it would be over and You would leave me forever, but I was wrong. That was when You came to me and put Your arms around me. Your presence filled me with so much peace and joy. I began to feel things that I never felt before. There was hope for a new life. How could this be, I’d ask? Then, You made it crystal clear to me. I was worth saving, as with all people on this earth. We are all loved but have lost our way. Thank You for looking past my sins and washing my sins clean. Your forgiveness and mercy is like nothing I have ever seen before. I am amazed by Your grace. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Lamentations 3:1-41 (KJV)
1 I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.