Psalm 103:12 - as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Imagine a kid steals $5 out of their mom or dad’s wallet.

The parents watches the kid do it but the kid doesn’t know they’ve seen it.

Suppose the kid feels guilty 15 minutes later and tells their parent, “I stole $5 out of your wallet and I’m sorry.”

They’re disappointed in the stealing, but happy about the repentance.

Now suppose the kid says nothing to them and they come to the kid two days later and say, “Hey, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Maybe the kid tells them right away. Maybe the kid forgot and the parents reminds them: “I think you took $5 from my wallet.”

And suppose the kid admits it. Again, they’re disappointed in the theft, glad for the repentance.

Now imagine the kid denies it: “I didn’t steal anything.” The parent says, “I saw you take it.” But the kid continues to deny it. The parent will be angry about the $5. But they’ll be furious at the lack of repentance.

Hebrews 4:13 - no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God knows it all - the action, whether we’re truly sorry, everything.

But now imagine the repentant kid comes to their parent the next day and says, “I’m sorry I took the $5.”

Then the next day: “I’m sorry I took the $5.” Then the next day: “I’m sorry I took the $5.” Then the next day: “I’m sorry I took the $5.” Then the next day: “I’m sorry I took the $5.” Then the next day: “I’m sorry I took the $5.”

They ask for forgiveness every day for a month straight. The parent will fairly quickly say, “Child, forget about the $5. I, myself, have dropped it. Stop bringing it up. As far as the east is from the west, I’ve dropped it.”

When we believe in Jesus, God adopts us. We become a child to him; he becomes our Father:

Psalm 103:12-13,8 - as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him… The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He loves us!

Sometimes, we repeatedly strike ourselves with guilt over our sin. But we’re not healed by self-inflicted punishment:

Isaiah 53:5 - he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

We’re healed by Jesus’ wounds, not our self-inflicted ones.

We sometimes self-segregate ourselves from God and others because we don’t think we’re worthy. We think contrition demands distance. We’re taught a different pattern - to come close:

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We might say, “I don’t deserve that! I don’t deserve to come near! I’ve done such wrong and so much of it!”

And God may say back to us: “My child, now you’re beginning to understand what’s so amazing about grace and mercy.”

May he teach us his ways completely in our hearts! And may we experience his hand on us in every depth of how David did:

Psalm 103:2-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.