The Miracle of the Eraser




> “I forgive you” ~ “You’re forgiven” ~ “Father forgive them for they know not what they

do” (Luke 23:34, NKJV). Like after a spring rain, these words refresh us, and we’re revitalized. But if asked, “I know what the ‘word’ means, but what does it look like?” Could we answer? Could we adequately draw a picture of ~ forgiveness ~?

Perhaps our mural starts with a palate of bright colors, and a family heading to the lake. But upon arrival, the day is dashed. The colors dim as the family looks at exposed rows of horizontal layers around the sides of the lake. The water level is dangerously low.

These horizontal layers are the lake’s history markers. Geologists can pinpoint the different time periods through dissecting the sediments, fossils and debris within them. It’s like reading the rings of a tree to tell its age.

Our Master Geologists doesn’t need water levels to drop to read our horizontal layers of history. The mural shifts. The paintbrush begins a new scene in shades of gray showing our sinful actions, either done or said. And areas thought hidden from everyone, including ourselves.

Our greenish, brown layers of muck and slim act like suction cups pulling us down; a few areas emanate foul sulfur like order. If we continued in this state the Master Geologist knew we’d sink like quicksand; His hand took over the paintbrush and changed our landscape.

He fills the next section of the mural with red’s and whites. God’s Son, the Christ, spilled His blood on the cross so we could wear the garment of white. But to wear this dazzling attire, there’s one condition. To clear the stench from our life and become a sweet aroma to our Master Geologist, we’d have to personally receive and believe in His Son’s ultimate sacrifice. At the moment we accept this awesome free gift, God takes the biggest eraser in Heaven and wipes out every sinful striation and areas thought hidden! We become a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new” (11 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

For another visual, take a pencil and draw horizontal lines on paper. On the lines write known sins, past and present. Then take an eraser and clear the paper of every pencil mark. Can you make them miraculously appear again? No, they’re obliterated.

The family has moved on. One day their favorite lake will refill, and when it does, its history markers will disappear from sight, but they’re never eliminated. But ours have vanished over the horizon. Never seen again.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103: 12). The mural image of forgiveness is complete. And God shouts, “The slate is wiped clean. Eternal Life is yours! You’re forgiven ~ forever!”