Halloween décor fills the
stores this time of year. Ghosts, goblins, and other scary specters line the
aisles. I am not a fan of the trappings of Halloween, but that haunted feeling can
be something quite familiar—even for Christians.
Maybe you’ve been there. Guilt and regret over the sin we committed yesterday, last month, last year, or even before we became a Christian, haunts the steps we try to take today. The mantra, “How could you . . .?”, reverberates through our minds like an unending echo.
What can we do about it? How can we be set free? Romans 3:22-24 says, “God will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. We can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have done. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.
These are wonderfully reassuring words—a promise, really—from the One who is the righteous, worthy judge of all! But what do we do with the guilt and regret that haunts us?
First, we must realize that conviction comes from God, but condemning guilt comes from Satan, the father of lies. (John 8:44) In agreement with Romans 3, Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.”
Second, we need to make sure we have truly repented of the sin. Are we genuinely sorry? Is it our desire, with God's help, to turn completely away from that sin?
Third, have an honest conversation with a fellow Christian we trust. James 5:16 encourages us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. Sometimes admitting our sin to somebody “with flesh on” can help us trust God’s forgiveness.
Fourth, believe God's Word. There are many Scriptures, in addition to the ones I have already mentioned, that explain how God deals with our sin. Paul reminds us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15) 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right: He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.”
Fifth, thank God who has made us fit to have our share of what God has reserved for His people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12) Join with David in saying, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind He is. He forgives all my sins. . . He blesses me with love and mercy.” (Psalm 103:2-4)
Let’s lay those haunting thoughts to rest once and for all and rejoice for “Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!” (Psalm 32:1)
Be encouraged!
