As Spring arrives each year, I have often pondered what makes some trees hang on to their leaves all winter long while others go through the process of shedding all the old, dead foliage. Funny how we do just the same.  For a moment, let’s imagine that the dead, lingering leaves represent sin in our lives. Perhaps the sin is unconfessed and needs to be dealt with through a prayer of forgiveness.  That’s one way to rid ourselves of the unsightly remnants.  

“As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  (Psalm 103:12)

Satan, however, has another plan in mind.  He does not want us to see ourselves forgiven and free to enjoy the life that Jesus died on the cross for us to have.  I believe on the inside some of us are holding on to the guilt of forgiven sins, carrying around dead, crunchy weight that makes us feel ugly on the inside, not worthy of God’s love. This becomes a brick wall we build between our selves and God.  Our relationship with Him suffers.

What better time than Easter to stand toe to toe with Satan and call him out on this lie from Hell! Knock down that wall and shed what God has already forgotten and cast “as far as the east is from the west.” Allow the new green leaves of God’s mercy to burst forth in their place with beauty and life. Your Heavenly Father loves you so much that He sacrificed what was nearest and dearest to His heart, His only son, Jesus, so we could experience this kind of forgiveness.  Our sins were nailed on the cross with Him.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.  (Isaiah 53:5)

Be whole and healed in Christ today. We serve a risen Savior!  Celebrate Easter with praise and thanksgiving! To God Be the glory!