A third stumbling block to accepting forgiveness is the decision to dwell on our past sins. We may ask for forgiveness, pray confessional prayers at church, but then take up our spiritual weight again. Even though scripture says, “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9), we doubt that such a freedom occurs.  

But does that make sense? Think of it this way: Every week, we put out the garbage. We take the apple cores, the used containers, and the messy rags and place them in the outside garbage bin. We remove the refuse from our lives. It is comforting to know that our garbage has been discarded. I don’t know about you, but I have yet to bring the garbage from the outside bin back into the house. I have never wanted to be re-surrounded by my old garbage once again.

Why, then, do we do this with our spiritual lives? Why do we have a propensity to take up all that we have laid down? We all know the adage is “Forgive and forget,” but because we can’t forget, we don’t feel forgiven.

It can be hard to turn off the voice that says we haven’t earned our forgiveness. We live in a world that tries to rank and file everything and everyone.  We live in a world of merit and earning, one that bombards us with messages such as, “What goes around comes around” and “You get what you deserve.” With this message firmly in our minds, it’s hard to hear the liberating message of the gospel. The message of free and eternal forgiveness seems far too good to be true.

In that world that runs on earning your keep, Scripture cuts through the noise and gives us a word of hope. We need not question our forgiveness, our stumble over our desire for forgiveness – because forgiveness is fundamental to who God is for us. And so, like a Sentinel looking toward the horizon in the eager anticipation that the dawn will come just as it always does, so we can live our lives in the knowledge of God’s forgiveness, love, and redemption. Amen.

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The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada.  He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others.  He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca.  He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.