Let us be moved with compassion to turn towards the Lord of Lords realizing that His desire is not to hold our faults, mistakes, downfalls, and sins over our heads. He is the Lord who forgives all who will repent. He is the Lord that loves us unconditionally, regardless of our past, our mistakes, our hang-ups, and our mess-ups.
Though He is Lord, He still loves.
God decided he wanted humans to have a chance at redemption, therefore, He allowed His son to be crucified for our sins. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14). In Psalm 103:12, it states “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
So, understand it is not the will of the Father to condemn you. His desire is to have you turn to Him, repentantly and accept the love that He has for you.
When dealing with the exiles, the LORD appeared to Jeremiah and stated, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” After all the sins they committed, the doubt, the unbelief, and the hard heartedness, God still responded with “I have loved thee with an everlasting love”. His love does not falter because of our disobedience. His love does not change because of our turning away. His love never fails even in the midst of our sin. His love is everlasting. His love is not fickle like we often experience. His love is not predicated upon us or our actions, but upon Him.
Don’t let your shame continue to keep you from turning towards your creator, the One who loves you more than anyone else could or can. Don’t let your mistakes keep you from living an abundant life in Christ. Don’t let your sins dictate your relationship with God. Turn to the One who loves you with an everlasting love, one that does not diminish or fade over time. God is not waiting on you to mess up so He can declare, “I told you so”, and He is not happy or content when you are in a sinful state. He awaits your return with open arms. He is happier than the father of the prodigal son when one of His own returns to Him.
Remember, before He formed you in the womb, He knew you (Jeremiah 1:5). He knew you were not perfect. He knew you would make mistakes. He knew you would fail, falter, and even fall. BUT He still loves you with an everlasting love.
Even as the exiles were lost, God spoke in Jeremiah 29:11-14 and encouraged them by saying:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Although you may have turned from God to idols, or you may have failed in one area or another, or you may have blatantly sinned against Him and His precepts; God still says to you, “I will be found of you”. If you seek Him, you will find Him. His word indicates that if you call upon Him and if you pray to Him, that He will listen, heed, and hear your prayer.
So, I ask you today to return to your first love. Turn to the One who loves you most and most completely. Turn away from your sins, your past, and your failures, and turn towards the only one who can and does love you with an everlasting love.
Written By: Paula Bibbs
