Rescused from Sin
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
In books we read, songs we sing, and sermons we listen to, we may hear a lot about being rescued or saved from sin. Do you ever wonder what this really means and how it applies to you? Aren’t we pretty good people, trying to keep the rules, doing most of what our parents ask, trying hard at school? Do we really need a rescuer?
The Bible says that there is “none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14), meaning that everyone’s heart has turned away from God. We believe that we know better than he does what is best for us.
Our hearts chase after things that make us the center of our universe. Deep down, our hearts naturally demand their own ways and forget the amazing power of God. We think we can make ourselves perfect by following all God’s rules and requirements.
Often we do good, so that we look good in others’ eyes. We live like following rules makes us acceptable and loved. Keeping the rules and trying to be a good person won’t make God love us, and we can never do these things perfectly.
Or, maybe you’re not a rule follower. Maybe you lean more towards doing your own thing whenever you want to. No one can tell you what to do, especially not God. This way of living says “I can’t keep all the rules and requirements, so why even try?” Even rebelling and choosing our own ways over God’s won’t make God stop loving us.
Both of these ways of living are running away from God. . . . Both ways are saying, “I don’t need God–I can live this life just fine on my own. No rescue is necessary for me. I’ve got this covered.” We either try to make ourselves perfect by following all the rules or we rebel and do whatever we want whenever we want to.
Whether we’re trying to keep rules or rebel, we need God’s forgiveness and rescue. Amazingly, God offers it to us through Jesus.
He wants us to come to him for rescue– from doing good and doing bad–and to know that he forgives all of our wrongs. Our hearts will be changed when we realize how our running from God compares to his running after us in forgiveness.
For Further Reading: Luke 15:11-32