In my life I have gone to many different places, have seen many different kinds of people, and have heard many great stories of heroes and heroines who struck out against the establishment. People who stood up for what is right, and fought against the evils of this world. None of them were perfect people; none of them did the right thing all the time, and all of them where sinners in the eyes of God. My last reflection was on Forgiveness, and after I re-read it I thought it vital to explain that Love comes from God, because he is love. We cannot love ourselves or others if we first do not forgive ourselves and others for what we do in our fight against what we perceive to be the evil in this world. Love is the most power word, which proves itself by our actions. Forgiveness is the second most powerful word because it leads to love. But guilt, that is a destroyer word. This week I want to dedicate this to all of you out there who is feeling some sort of guilt upon which you feel there is no escape, and I want to lead you back to God, and show you that he alone holds the keys to the doorway which leads to the path of forgiveness, and love, and which will vanquish your guilt. There is hope, there is a way if only you listen faithfully.
In the NIV Study Bible, New International Version, on page 9-Genesis Chapter 3:7, “The Fall of Man”, it reads:
Genesis 3:7: Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
The question I asked to a group of fourth grade students after reading this to them was simply this, “Why did they cloth themselves?” I got all kinds of answers but the one word that kept coming up over and over again was “Guilt”. Adam and Eve felt guilty for taking the fruit, for disobeying God.
The fact of the matter is, that whenever we do something that we know we should not have done, we feel guilty. Why else do we make the attempts to hide it? When we hide it we begin to nurture this feeling by justifying it. When people remind us of what we have done we get upset. Because we feel justified in our actions we refuse to humble ourselves and look into our own hearts, because if we do we know we will become, “Guilty”. Guilt strangles us, and prevents us from forgiving, and blocks us from Gods Love. Guilt will tear a person apart and leave nothing behind, there is no captives, and no hope once we have bought into its lies, and deception. Guilt is an absolute: meaning this word once made into action, will never go away and will always tug at your heart, refusing to let go. We as mortals do not have the power to completely vanquish it on our own. People who feel guilt often times fall into depression, and hide and avoid from the problems that arise because of the action that brought the guilt. They hide from the truth, from themselves, from others, and the world at large, and they become afraid, feeling intense fear.
Genesis 3:8-11: Then man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10: He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.”
11: And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
This story in the bible is so powerful because it tells of two people who were guilty, who saw the sin and tried to hide it. They blamed each other and the serpent, out of fear and guilt. Satan gives us this powerful word, and tortures us with it. He tries to make us feel guilt even when there is no guilt in our actions. But it becomes magnified when we have done something, when we have kept secrets. Adam and Eve where going to try and hide their sin before God, hence they hid. God’s reply to them was perfect, “Who told you that you where naked?”. These words placed the full weight of their guilt upon their shoulders where it belonged. “Who told you?” I can hear God really thinking in that moment, (I know I didn’t tell you that!). As a parent I can see the frustration in those words when your child has done something and then lied about it, then tried to cover it up, holding it in their hearts as a secret.
The Holy Bible however has the answer, as the words of God are found written throughout its pages the key to vanquishing this vial of emotions is and has been staring us in the face for thousands of years.
From the Lost Gospel Q; page 79;
Q45“There is nothing covered up now that will not be exposed. Nothing is secret that will not be revealed. Every secret you’ve kept will become known. What you have whispered in the hidden places will be shouted from the housetops.”
Fear through guilt, of the secret finally being revealed will keep us from asking for forgiveness.
Mark 4:40; And he said unto them, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
Mark tells us that fear blocks faith, which will keep us serpent from God. But Isaiah gives us hope, in Isaiah 41:13; “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Because God is just, because he alone is all knowing there is only one way out of the destructive path guilt puts us on. The only right door to choose is written in 1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2Chronicles 30:9;“For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.”
Isaiah 43:25; “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
My personal favorite example which shows God’s mercy is found in the Book of 1John 2:12, I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake.
The real truth is “Guilt” and “Sin” where vanquished with the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We become hostage of guilt because we allow it to be so, when all we have to do is ask for forgiveness. I ask all who read this reflection to do one thing, which is to ask God first to forgive you of your guilt, then confess your guilt to those whom you have sinned against and ask them to show you mercy, and forgiveness. Simply say that you are sorry and that you love them, and your relationship will be renewed and strengthened.
Amen
May peace be with you all the days of your life? If you have been moved by this blog I invite you to become a follower, and learn to Listen Faithfully to our Lord Jesus Christ.