The Miracle of the Eraser
by Sharon L. Reidenbach
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“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!”
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