Our Minds Cannot Comprehend

Just the other day we took a look at forgiveness. Or better yet, unforgiveness. I really believe this is something very difficult for most, if not everyone, to get. How can God forgive, especially certain things? Our minds cannot comprehend.

We somehow cannot figure out how God forgives. Or even if He does, what does He do with it. Is that it? We just lay it at the cross and walk away? How can He forgive me? People hold grudges. I know I have. And there are times where I cannot even forgive myself.

So we go and lay our sin at the foot of the cross, but then we try to atone for it on our own. We drag the burden of our sin, that is forgiven, around with us to prove somehow how sorry we are for it. Because our minds cannot comprehend.

Carmen and I have our dog, Weegee. He is a part of our pack and the best dog ever! But when it starts storming, or even a hint of it, he gets all nervous and starts panting. Just now, as I am writing this, it’s raining. He is trying to find a spot to hide. So I explained to him that it is the earth getting a drink from the heavens just like he gets a drink out of his dog bowl when he is thirsty. But he just cannot comprehend.

His ways, His thoughts, and His love (speaking of God, not my dog Weegee) are incomprehensible to us. It is just like me trying to explain to Weegee about the rain. It is incomprehensible.

We Have Been Programmed

Our brains have been mapped since we were toddlers. Many of us have been taught that when we mess up, we are bad. We want to make people pay for what they did. We attempt to atone for our sins. Yes, there are consequences to all actions but to move on, there has to be forgiveness. And then we are reminded of it for good measure, “Remember when you did that before?” And we are told to not ever do it again.

So to hear that I am forgiven? How could I be forgiven for what I’ve done? And I am still not perfect. How can God continue to forgive me? Our minds cannot comprehend.

Here Is What You Need To Do

#1 Trust God. Trust what He does (forgive) and that He really means it. Even if you don’t understand it. The enemy doesn’t want you to believe it. Satan and his minions will remind you as often as they can about what you did. He will make you doubt that you are forgiven. He will try to tell you that your sin is so bad, how can you possibly be forgiven. And he will use other people to tell you and remind you how bad you are!

#2 Remember the sacrifice Jesus made so you know you are forgiven. He atoned for your sins. None of us deserve it. None of us have earned forgiveness. It’s not possible. But because of His amazing love and grace, you are forgiven. God wants you to be in right standing with Him, so He made it possible through Jesus.

That is the only way you can be with God – without sin. Sin can’t be in God’s presence. So your sin has been removed by what Jesus did, by shedding His blood. He took your sins upon Himself. His blood wiped the sin away so that you can be in right standing with Him.

#3 Declare the truth of God’s word in your life. You are forgiven. Renew your mind with God’s word. Like the old cassette tapes, record over the old with the new. Record the new truth of the word of God over the old lies, guilt and shame told to you by the enemy.

The Light is Truth

You can’t walk into a lit room with an unlit candle and make the room dark. But you can walk into a dark room with a lit candle and make it light. Light, God, God’s Word, His truth, always overtrumps the lies and darkness of the enemy.

Margaret Becker is one of my favorite artists from back ’80s and ’90s. I love the album (Susan) Ashton, (Margaret) Becker & (Christine) Dente` did together called Along the Road (’90s). Let this song from Margaret Becker speak to your heart…

Challenge of the Day: Believe God and His Word. Believe that you are forgiven. DO NOT drag it back with you – Jesus already atoned for your sin. Declare it so, that you are forgiven, with your very words. So be it!