Our Recycling Bin (Bulletin Article for November 5)

On the “desktop” of most computers, there is a small icon that used to be called “trash.” Now it is called the “recycle bin.” It is the bin into which old documents, files, etc. are put so they can be eliminated. But, they are not eliminated unless the user actually goes into the bin and empties it out. The files can be brought back up until the point that the user eliminates them.

Many people feel like their sins are put in some sort of recycle bin. It is called “guilt,” and it brings up our sins over and over. We have trouble forgiving ourselves, even if we have asked God (and, possibly, others) for forgiveness. While we know that God forgives, we have trouble letting go.

There are many people who want to come to the Lord, but say things like, “I’ve done something so bad that the Lord will never forgive me of that.” Others, who are Christians, but erring Christians, have trouble coming back to the Lord because they think, “God trusted me, and I’ve betrayed that trust.” When someone thinks as these people think, he or she is letting guilt override his or her intelligence. And, sadly, many who think like this never come to the Lord. They let guilt take control.

It is true that we need to feel guilty when we sin. We should never be like those in Jeremiah’s day who were unable even to blush at their transgressions (cf. Jeremiah 6:15). But, once we have sought and received forgiveness, we need to learn from our mistake and move on to greater service in God’s Kingdom.

While all are sinners (cf. Romans 3:23), some commit many sins. However, think of some of those who did not let those terrible sins keep them from serving God.

• Moses, whose anger and presumption kept him from entering the Promised Land, still led the children of Israel to the edge of that great country.
• David, overwhelmed with terrible guilt for his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, repented and went on to be a beloved leader of God’s people, and “a man after [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:22).
• Peter, who went so far as to deny even knowing Jesus, is known to us as the preacher of the first Gospel sermon—to which at least 3000 people responded.
• Paul, who imprisoned and tortured Christians, was even forgiven of that sin. He overcame his past to become the greatest missionary of all time.

How about me? Do I have sin in my life that I need to turn away from? Am I allowing guilt to take over, and keep me from repenting? God gave each of us a conscience, and we need to allow it to prick us when we sin, but we do not need to allow it to take over our thinking.

We need to empty the recycling bin of guilt and allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse us.