I’ve looked everywhere! It’s not here! I’ve looked in my closet, the dirty cloths hamper, under the bed, even in the trash. I cannot find it! Why would someone be so cruel as to take it? Why? I loved it! It was mine. Now it’s gone. I want to put up posters around the neighborhood to see if anyone has seen it. I want to take an ad out in the local newspaper with a picture…it might be that someone has a tip that will lead to me finding it.
Where are you my favorite green pullover jacket? I know you had stains and holes and rips. But, you were mine. All mine! You went everywhere with me. I wore you with pride. And, when people made fun of me for wearing you so much, I just clung on to you a little tighter. You were my favorite! There is no jacket that will ever replace you. Until we meet again!
Silly? Probably!
Sin. Guilt. Stain. Lies. What have I done? God said (Isaiah 59:2-3) that our sins have hidden his face from us. He doesn’t hear me. My sins, guilt, stain, and lies have separated me with God.
This is not good! Help! Somebody…anybody! Help! I’m lost. I need help! Please help me! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, God. I love you! I need you! Please, save me…I’m lost and afraid.
Wait. I see something! It’s a poster! “Call to me and I will answer you….” Call to me? It says that the number is: JER333…Jeremiah 33:3. It says, “No dialing required, just speak to me and I will answer you.”
As much as I miss my green pullover, I miss God even more when I go against God’s best for me and it causes Him to turn away from me. There are consequences to a blatant disregard for God’s Word. However, there are great rewards for those who turn away from a sinful life and renew their relationship with Him. In 1 John 1:9 John says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Stained? Yes! Guilty? Yes! Sinner? Yes! Separated from God? Not anymore! Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were STILL (stained and guilty) sinners, Christ died for us!” Acts 22:16 declares that baptism washes away our sins.
Isaiah 43:25 says that God will blot out our sins and remember them no more! When I totally give my life to God and do what His word says, then I am no longer separated from Him!
Stained? Not anymore! Guilty? Absolutely not! Forgiven? Yes, Indeed! I may never find my green pullover, but as long as I have God, Jesus, and Spirit, I will be just fine! Actually, I will be eternally fine!
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian