A Far Green Country

The central glory of our faith is that we have a Savior. We are loaded down with sins, shortcomings, failures, bad habits of mind and heart, and an assortment of all kinds of baggage that make us miserable. We are the kind of people who need a Savior, so Christianity is the religion for us. God saves (rescues, delivers) us and makes us into new people.

I love it when my husband mentions from the pulpit that God doesn’t care about our sins. He has forgiven them and He doesn’t care about them any more. He wants us to come to Him and enjoy His presence, leaving our baggage at the door. Forgiveness means that God has cleared the record, He has received us and washed us. He is not interested in remembering how dirty the bathwater was. We are put right, set on our feet, squeaky clean, and allowed to enjoy Him now.

So, it doesn’t much matter what your issues are. Are they sinful issues? Then get in the tub and get washed. No arguing about how weird the dirt is or where it came from or why you got this way in the first place. Spending time analyzing the dirt is a distraction away from the hot, soapy water.

Mankind tripped and fell in Adam, and it was a long fall into all kinds of troubles. Only a kind Savior can haul us out. So look away from yourself, look away from the sin and trouble, and look to Christ. He is the only One who can save, and He saves us to the uttermost.

- Nancy Wilson