“And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.” -Deuteronomy 9:12
It seems that human beings are so easily turned out of the right way. The Bible points out that sin does “so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). This is a sad fact of sinful human nature. Paul warns even, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). We must be ever careful. Satan is out to get us and he is always disguising his efforts in such a way as to trap us and he is aiming for the spots in our character where he knows from experience that he will find weakness. He took Adam and Eve that way, Samson, David, Moses, Aaron, Mariam, the Children of Israel, and you just name them, the list goes on. Let us ever be thankful for God’s grace and mercy through Jesus Christ for if it was not for such then we would all surely be left for dead!
Let us be thankful that in Christ and His word there are power and great promises that will lead to overcome and “to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust” (John 15:4,5; 2 Peter 1:4). And though are sins have been as scarlet, yet they will be as white as snow if we confess and forsake them while trusting in Jesus to deliver by His blood and righteousness (1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:18; Proverbs 28:13).
Have you been quickly turned out of the way? Have you seen yourself sliding away from God and perhaps doing what you should not have been doing? Did you ever wake up one day and realize that you had followed a path that had led you away (even far away) from God, our Father who loves us? Perhaps you have. Do not despair. It’s very sad. It’s very terrible! But the good news is that God loves you and me still! He longs with a Father’s great heart of love for His wayward child to return to Him and to repent of the sin. God has a place for us still. He shows His great love and mercy for us! He is not willing for any to perish, but desires for all to come to repentance if they will. In fact, He pleads with us to do so (See Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 2:9; Matthew 11:28-30). See also this picture in Jesus’ story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:17-24).
Here is a simple recipe for coming back into the Father’s love and His holiness: Stop where you are…all dirty and sinful. Think of His love. Choose to leave the sinful life and to go back to God’s love (even knowing your unworthiness). The Father will welcome you back with arms of love. He sees you coming when you are still “far off.” When you meet Him confess your sin. He will embrace you, forgive you, cleanse you, fill you, and cover you with His love and righteousness. He will guide you in His way again. Go now and be blessed in God’s love! Do not remain even another moment outside of His love. Stop wallowing in sin and trying to avoid God. Run to Him!! He alone can deliver and save you!
