Guilt

         A few years ago*, Peiter Vanvliet repeatedly called 911 from a Plant City, Florida phone booth. His message was law enforcement officials had a warrant out for his arrest. He stood ready to turn himself in and would wait by the phone booth, until the police were able to pick him up for arrest.

         The operator dutifully reported this information and law enforcement authorities prepared to make the arrest. They uncovered a complicating factor—there was no warrant for Vanvliet’s arrest.   

         At last, a sheriff’s deputy arrived at the pay phone to arrest Vanvliet. The reason? Vanvliet had made so many calls, he was arrested for abusing the 911-phone system.

         I know Christians like Peiter Vanvliet. They carry with them burdens of guilt that should not be present. Consequently, they are miserable and do not reach their potential for God. 

         A favorite verse for me is Rom. 8:1  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

         As a Christian:

         Are you going to trust your gut?

         Or, are you going to trust God?        

*Source: WORLD MAGAZINE August 23, 2008

What If No One Forgot?

It was the tenth inning of the final game of the World Series. The New York Giants were leading the Boston Red Sox, 2-1. Christy Mathewson, the great pitcher, delivered the ball to the plate. The batter hit an easy fly ball to center fielder, Fred Snodgrass. Snodgrass eased under the ball—and dropped it!

Snodgrass’ muff placed the game-tying run on second base. The next batter, future hall-of-famer Harry Hooper, hit a screaming line drive over Snodgrass’ head—surely it would be a triple.

Unbelievably, Snodgrass ran the ball down and made the greatest catch of his life—a game-saving catch. Unfortunately, the catch went for naught.

Christy Mathewson inexplicably walked a batter. The next man up, future hall of famer Tris Speaker, hit a pop fly foul ball, in front of the grandstand. Unbelievably, Mathewson and catcher John “Chief” Myers misplayed it, which gave Speaker another chance at the plate. He hit a single to tie the game. The Giants made no more errors, but lost the game when a sacrifice fly scored the winning run from third base.

Afterwards, the New York newspapers became apoplectic. They blamed Fred Snodgrass for the loss, even though he clearly was not alone in his mistakes.

Snodgrass went on to play four more seasons of Major League Baseball. Overall, he enjoyed a fine career. A good steward with his earnings, Snodgrass went back home to California and became a very successful rancher, banker, and businessman. He lived a life filled with good works and died at the ripe old age of 86 on April 6, 1974.

The next day, the venerable NEW YORK TIMES featured Fred Snodgrass in its Obituary page. Almost sixty-two years after the 1912 World Series, the headline read: "Fred Snodgrass, 86, Dead; Ball Player Muffed 1912 Fly."

What if God took your most embarrassing mistake, and refused to forget it? What if, on the Day of Judgment, God announced to Universe your worst sin?

Be of good cheer. Here is what Hebrews tells about God’s memory of sin for those who are in Christ, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more" (Heb. 10:17b) ESV.

The Wall

Back in 2003, U. S. soldiers found a guy, who had been an enemy of Saddam Hussein since 1981. Sadaam had put him on his hit list, so this man went home and constructed a wall inside his home. The last thing the man did before sealing the wall was to place himself behind it. He stayed there 22 years until 2003, when Sadaam was dead.

Nobody outside of his home knew where he was. They did not know he was there. Only his mother and his wife knew. But he had been living behind that wall for 22 years. How would you have liked that? Living alone in the darkness behind a wall?

You think--what a terrible existence! 22 years behind a wall. How awful!

Guess what. I know Christians, who live the same way. They take their guilt and they build themselves a wall. And they live a miserable life, a miserable existence, behind that wall. But I want you to know, the blood of Christ can make you clean. It can destroy that wall.

14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Heb. 9:14).