When you look at your backtrail, does it feel you with regret? It might be because you wish you had chosen another career. Maybe it’s because you had a chance of a lifetime, and you passed it up. If only you had invested $100 in Microsoft when it was $2.00 per share, you would be a gazillionaire today. You would have purchased Hawaii and changed your name to King Kalani or Queen Qualani. Because alliteration signals fun-loving royalty.
Mostly, you regret all those horrible deeds, words, and thoughts you spewed towards people and things. Those are the items you think of when you mutter, “How could I have done that?” Following is, “I wish I could have a do-over.” Your trip down your abominable memory lane concludes with a sigh and, “I need a package of Oreos. Make that three packages.”
Guilt is such a downer. People have ended up dead or in psychiatric wards because of guilt. It’s capable of destroying or debilitating a person in so many ways. With tongue in cheek, Erma Bombeck described guilt as the gift that keeps on giving. It’s been said that guilt is anger directed at ourselves.
In Psalm 51:3, David says, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” In other words, David has a hard time forgetting all the wrong things he’s done. He then speaks of the result in verse 17: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
David’s words may sound more like a wish rather than a truth. After all, David isn’t familiar with the gospel, nor the saving grace Jesus offers through His sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus makes verse 17 truth for everyone who seeks forgiveness from God. Through His Son, God becomes the living epitome of forgiveness. For the person who trusts in Jesus, the Father forgives all sins committed against Him. That includes all sins committed against every person, all sins of action, words and thoughts, and all past, present, and future sins.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more,” declares God in Jeremiah 31:34. This is a promise made to the people of Israel, but Jesus expands the promise to include everyone who puts their trust in Him.
One of the most beautiful stories of God’s forgiveness is found in John 21. Prior to the crucifixion, Peter denies he knows Jesus three times. This isn’t just a lie; it’s a colossal insult to Jesus. He and Peter have spent three years together, practically inseparable, and now Peter denies knowing Him. How insulting!
But post-resurrection, Jesus works at restoring the relationship with Peter while sharing breakfast on the Galilean shoreline. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, and three times Peter answers, ‘yes.’ With that, Peter is restored to Jesus. The Son requires no further repentance. Peter’s sin of denials are set aside, never to be remembered again.
It’s possible Peter remembers them no more too. He goes on to become one of the pillars of the early church. In one of his epistles, he writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Chosen people? Royal priesthood? Holy nation? God’s special possession? It certainly sounds like Peter has moved on from his sin of denial.
We believers need to do the same. If God remembers our sins no more, we need to follow His example. With His forgiveness extended to us, we experience peace with God. Why, then, should we continue to beat ourselves up about our sins.
Instead, we should dwell in the easy yoke Jesus offers in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Are you weary and burdened by your sins because you will not forget them? Follow your Lord’s example, and let them go. You have peace with God; now allow Him to grow His peace within you.