Oh, What Joy!

 I wonder what it is that causes us to feel better than anything else? I am sure if I asked that question to a big crowd of people I would get a wide variety of answers, especially if they didn't know I was a preacher. Some people would mention some kind of material possession. Others would think about the one person who brought them the most pleasure. I think some people would name a place that they love to go to for rest and relaxation. While all of these things are very nice, none of them compares to the one thing that should cause us the most joy. 

David was inspired by God to write a lot of psalms. Some were about his trials and enemies. Others were about what caused him to have joy, even great joy. Here is one of those. (Psalm 32:1,2) "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty." That is definitely the thing which should cause us to feel better than anything else in the world.

Of course, we have all sinned; we all need forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. When we turn from our sins, put our trust in Him alone to forgive our sins because of His sacrifice, and surrender to Him as our personal Lord and Savior, God forgives us and our sin is put out of sight. It is removed once and for all, as far as the east is from the west. God doesn't see it any more, but He sees us cleansed and having the righteous of Christ, instead of our filthy righteousness. What joy this should bring us!

We all have a record, an account, if you would. Our sins are the debits in our record, but when we are saved the Lord has cleared our record of any guilt. We no longer have to try to hide any of our past sins. We can and should live in complete honesty. We should joyfully confess that we used to be guilty of many sins, but the Lord has cleared us of guilt. We stand innocent before the Lord by the blood of Christ. We don't have to lie about any sins we have committed or try to cover them up. We just joyfully confess that God has cleared us by His grace. Oh, what joy!

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 35-37.