STARTING FRESH

It is finally spring in Canada, and it has been a long cold winter. Easter is coming, and everyone is ready for the year to really start. This time of year we see images of eggs hatching into baby chicks, buds on trees that turn into flowers  -things growing and flourishing. It is about new beginnings or beginning again. 

Christians remember Christ's resurrection at this time of year, it reminds us that all things are possible through God. Jesus died to pay for our sins, and rose again. If Jesus Christ the son of God could give the life that he was given here on earth to his father -who are we to say no. Who are we to say 'THIS IS MY LIFE', and it is worth too much to give it back to our father who created us. 

It is a lot easier said than done, this is true. We are not perfect -none of us are. As the popular verse in Romans 3:23 says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." and Isaiah 53:6 starts out saying, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way...". This is a simple enough concept to understand, but in sin there is shame, and in shame there is distance. Human nature has demonstrated this process since Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve realized that they have done something wrong they do something to save themselves from facing it, "And they heard the voice of God walking in the garden in the cool of day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)

For people who believe in God, but who also sin, there is this immeasurable burden and guilt. There is also this fear that there will be no mercy; an anxiety. There always seems to be this process of sin> guilt>anxiety and fear that we won't be forgiven. God knows our sinful nature better than any being. If we trust in His capacity of love, and recognize that it is greater than our own, then we can begin to understand that He is far more likely to forgive us than we imagine. Living with fear and anxiety can set us back from following Jesus, and serving God. If we continue hiding our faces because of sin, we are hiding from peace, love, and service. 

David served as an example of a servant who overcame the anxiety that sin brought into his life, by trusting in God and continuing in service to God. David went through this process and with humble transparency he shares it with us in Psalms. In Psalms 38:18 David exposes this burden of guilt "For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin." Later, in Psalm 51:4 he admits guilt again, but he is full of repentance, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." Later, we seeing David longing for God's forgiveness, "Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity." (Psalm 51:9 NIV) David recognizes God's mercy, and we can too, "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. (Psalm 86:5-7 NIV)

We spend our whole lives being told to focus on what we want to be when we grow up. As children most people in Canada spend the majority of their days at school learning mathematics and chemistry, and things that can potentially make money. However, these subjects have nothing to do with knowing where we came from, and what God intended for us to do. Similarly, as adults many people spend the same proportion of time dedicated to making money, not thinking of where we came from, and what God intended our lives for.

When do we stop and decide to think about the gifts that we've been given? Short of counting our breaths in the wakeful hours of each day, should we not dedicate at least part of our life to saying thank you for all of the smiles that we had the opportunity to place on our faces, the moments of pride, success, laughter and love? We can do this by beginning again in service to God and serving him. Even if we stumble and fall we can take David's example and continue trusting in our God who is "...forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call (to Him)." Spring is here, and there is no time like the present to begin again!