“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18).

Why is it that we can be up one moment and down the next? What is it that consumes our soul and makes us feel as though we have no connection with anything? What keeps us from a meaningful relationship with the Creator? What is the key to unlocking our misery and shame when we find ourselves lost and non-transparent with those around us? Why do we refuse to let people in? When Christ is calling us why do we shun him?

Left to our own passions and sin we are in a saddened state of mind, both psychologically and spiritually.

Sometimes we don’t realize how much we have in common with each other. We cry, we become angry, we weep, we rejoice from out of the depths of our hearts, we can be happy, sad, discouraged, jubilant, mindful, kind, gracious, conceited, prideful, humble, bright, lacking in wit, full of wisdom, unforgiving, scheming, humble, refined, casual, introverted and extroverted all at the same time. These are just to mention a few of the myriad of like-minded characteristics we share, but there is one thing, the one vice that captivates, dominates, and plagues us all— sin.

In the original sense and language of the New Testament Bible, the word is ἁμαρτία hamartia “sin”, and carries with it the meaning of failure, being in error, or missing the mark…like that of an arrow flying toward its target and missing the center bulls-eye altogether. Because of our freedom of choice, we often choose sin and reject God’s perfect love, grace, and fellowship; hence, we miss the mark.

To choose injudiciously can only lead mankind down one road: a downward spiral that allows sin to enter and enslave us. Our privilege to freely choose to love or not to love; to give or take away; to seek or to abandon; to flee or to fight; to build up or to destroy; to be anonymous or to be significant as a child of the King are indeed mighty choices. Oh, how we wish it were not so, that sin would have no power over us, but it’s something that has been around since God created man and woman in the Garden. Then, sin entered and all changed. Even now, the whole creation groans, and we who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we eagerly await our redemption (Romans 8:22-24).

That perfect fellowship that was enjoyed between God and His creation was forever to be spoiled by the abruptness and cunningness of the serpent, Satan, the evil one, the father of lies, who deceived Adam and Eve with a lie, and brought sin into the perfect Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-14). Sin separated man and woman from God. Sin ended that sweet fellowship that was so pure from the beginning! Andrew Murray sheds light on humankind’s sin predicament when he writes, “One great power of sin is that it blinds men so that they do not recognize its true character.”

Yet there is good news after all…sin can be denounced and fellowship can be regained by the mere mention of His name…the name of Jesus Christ. Martin Luther wisely said, “The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.”

Years ago, my wife’s sister, Claudia, asked me a question that rattled my brain that day. It was one of those soul-searching kinds of questions you don’t get asked every day and it was one that I hadn’t contemplated, but it was intriguing. Momentarily, I was placed on pause just long enough to silently whisper a few words to the Lord asking him to give me the right words with which to respond. I knew Claudia was seeking answers to some tough questions in her life.

“Robert, you’re a Christian, so what makes you so different from me?” In my humbleness as we stood out on Claudia’s porch in the morning heat of Needles, CA, I responded by saying, “Claudia, I’m a saved sinner and you’re a lost sinner.When I sin, I have Jesus who I can go to and ask forgiveness from the heart and He cleanses me of my sin and guilt everlastingly. When you sin, Claudia, you have no one to go to who can forgive you. You will always carry your sin and guilt. Only Jesus Christ the Son of God who can become your Savior can forgive you of your sin and take away your guilt.” With those words, our conversation came to an end that morning.

Within that year, Claudia and I were able to resume our conversation. She now said to me, “I’ve been thinking about what you told me. Tell me more about Jesus.” My heart melted as I knew God’s Holy Spirit had been preparing her heart to receive the King of Glory—the One who was to be her friend throughout her days to come.

July 2007, Claudia was baptized, and her testimony flowed over into the lives of three of her grandchildren. They too accepted Christ and were baptized together. What a day of rejoicing that was not only in the heavenly places where angels dwell with that great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), but it was a great day of rejoicing for us on earth. God’s grace and his undenying power was demonstrated with the radiance and purpose of his eternal love.

Just years later, Claudia lost her battle with cancer, but was victorious as she won the battle over sin and guilt and was richly welcomed through heaven’s gates by her Savior (2 Peter 1:10-11). I think back often and realize the powerfulness of the scriptures that read, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1), and the Apostle Peter who encourages us, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Let’s not forget the power of the gospel message we hold for others to hear “that we may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Each one of us in Christ Jesus has at the tip of our tongue the words of power that can release a soul from their heaviness when their bones and bodies are filled with pain and hurt. And let us not get ahead of ourselves as these words are not our words, but the words of the Lord, found in the Scriptures; not our power, but Christ’s power, that can set free those in need of a Savior and Friend.

King David wrote in Psalm 34:5-7, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”

Claudia found her Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the lyrics of Will Reagan in his song, Nothing I Hold On To; “I give it all to you God trusting that you’ll make something beautiful out of me . . . I lean not on my own understanding— my life is in the hands of the maker of heaven . . . I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open . . . I am so in love with you there is no one else for me . . . There’s nothing I hold on to . . .”

I have always held to the principle that whenever I even mention the adversary Satan in any shape, fashion, or form, I will always close off my comments that point to God’s undeniable grace and power.

So, I leave you with these few passages to encourage you:

Always keep your faith focused upon the author and perfecter of your faith, Jesus. Hebrews 12:2

With the shield of faith we are able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

Our weapons that we are to do spiritual battle with are not weapons of the world … they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The sting of death is sin—it has no hold on us. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:53-58

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

I bear witness that the only means to freedom from the slavery of his deception and the power of sin is to be freed by the blood of Christ Jesus. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9