If you read my posts regularly you will realize I have had a ‘dry spell’ and haven’t written at my usual pace. Dry spells can be frustrating. I hate writer’s block. Well….at least now I have a trickle. Not saying the dam has burst but inspiration has come, it seems there is a leak….finally.
Timing of this inspiration couldn’t have been more perfect as we are approaching Resurrection Sunday, more commonly known as Easter and it has everything to do with the inspiration that came this morning. I was talking with someone who was confronted with things he had done in his childhood, the weight of which is heavy, like an anvil on a heart. Normal childhood dynamics in a sin-fallen world, as kids (and adults) we suffered being sinned against at the same time have sinned against others.
So what is the difference between guilt and Godly sorrow? Aren’t they the same? Well, as it turns out-no! In a few days believers world-wide stop, acknowledge and have reverence for what occurred on a Friday, 2000 years ago. Jesus willingly went to a cruel cross and paid the price for every sin you and I have committed or ever will commit-replacing the guilt and fear of never being forgiven which would leave us hopeless and shattered once we understand the gravity and weight of what we’ve done, with Godly sorrow that leads us to repent (which means to turn and go the opposite direction) for what we’ve done, leading us to change our behavior. Does conviction feel good? Well, if we have the right perspective, it certainly stings less. It’s good for us to recognize when we have done wrong and realize we have the opportunity to turn from it and do better. The phrase, ‘ignorance is bliss’ is great until one realizes the carnage that has ensued from our behavior-then it can be crippling (apart from accepting the free gift of forgiveness and life offered through the belief as Jesus as our Lord and Savior).
Guilt without redemption or forgiveness or the possibility of reconciliation is devastatingly sad, could be crippling. I encouraged my friend that he had the opportunity to be reconciled with people he longed to be reconnected and close with. He had the opportunity to start over again, to apologize acknowledging the hurt, to repent and do right. Now that’s good news! He had the opportunity to also forgive those who had bullied, abused or neglected him.
You see, Jesus went first. He suffered an unjust trial, a cruel death on a cross and rose the third day, conquering sin and death-He took the hit, paid the price for all the wrong we would ever do because He didn’t want to be separated from us eternally as a consequence of our sin. He made a way for us where there was no way. So, though we may be ‘guilty’ of committing a sin against another person, we needn’t be ‘guilt-ridden’ with no hope of forgiveness at the end of the day by a holy God. For those who put their hope and trust in Jesus-guilt is replaced with Godly-sorrow for the wrong we’ve done but leaves us with assurance of forgiveness and purpose and power to change going forward, the hope of eternal life with God hereafter.
The big deal of Easter has nothing to do with chicks and bunnies (though cute and fun). Good Friday was actually a great Friday because in His mercy and grace we don’t get what we deserve (eternal separation from God for those who don’t trust in Jesus as their Savior) and we get what we don’t deserve and can’t do anything to earn-life everlasting, the hope of heaven, all because of what unfolded over 3 days, a couple thousand years ago. Freedom from crippling guilt, exchanged for Godly, life-changing sorrow that causes us to change. Good Friday sounds like an oxymoron when you understand the cruel crucifixion of Jesus. His passion was the cross because of His sacrificial love for us.
Psalm 51:17 “My sacrifice, O god, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, you, God, will not despise.”
Growing up, I learned of Christ’s death on a cross but had little understanding of what He suffered for me-it felt a watered down story, followed by a lot of a large dinner, Easter egg hunt and chocolate bunnies. I simply ‘didn’t get it’. When I saw this movie-my life changed. I understood more clearly.