Psalm 32
The town I grew up in is on the shore of a Great Lake. Sandy beaches, gorgeous sunsets and all the activities associated with those things were part of my upbringing. We used to sift through the stones and shells that lay in the sand and pick out our favourites. I became a sand architect making dribble castles from the wet sand, and I'd rebuild them when a wayward wave would come and destroy my masterpieces. There's nothing like going for a walk on a long stretch of sand as the sun sets, hearing the waves rolling on the shore. Sailboats, floating air-mattresses, surfboards and water wings ~ all part of the fun.
Yet there is one thing that still gets me today. When it's time to leave the beach and go home after a wet, sandy time, there is the problem of the sand that wants to hitch a ride home. The sand that sticks to wet skin. The wet sand that doesn't brush off easily. Oh, if it's dry, we laugh at its efforts and sweep it off with a swipe of our hands. No problem. It's the wet stuff that becomes difficult. Wiping it off is a futile effort. So it goes for the ride home in the car, makes its way into the house, onto furniture, into beds. Then there is grit covering the floor and everyone is affected by it.
That's my only beach complaint.
And the solution to removing this pesky, clingy sand? Water. It washes off the tiny grains, although some rubbing or scrubbing may still have to happen. But the water cleans and eliminates the problem. Preferably before you go into the house.
Sin is like that annoying, wet, sand. It clings, it hurts, it contaminates. And not just ourselves. The effects of our sin are sometimes far-reaching. Other people are affected, hurt, and changed by what we do.
Thankfully there is a solution for that too. It's called forgiveness. And the best kind is in its origin ~ God Himself.
"Oh, what JOY for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what JOY for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" (Ps. 32:1-2, NLT)
That feeling of relief when the gritty sand is washed off?
Clean.
That feeling of relief when the pain of sin is washed away?
Cleansed.
Forgiven.
Free.
Hopeful.
JOYful.
It puts a smile on my face.
Oh what JOY!
Lesson in the journey ~ Forgiveness brings JOY.
