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We all know the feeling of being covered over by things. Most of us can say at one time or another, I’m covered over in laundry!! After preparing a big meal, we may be up to our neck in dishes! Some may feel the load of debt.
But there’s nothing heavier than being deep in our sin. The weight of guilt and sorrow can nearly bury us. It buries us under guilt and shame and will often be the reason some Christians turn away from following the Lord! What are we to do when we feel we are in a deep place because of our sin?
All sin is alike to God, it doesn’t even matter if it is what we would call a “little sin” or a “big one.” It all is the same before a holy God.
I clearly remember one time as an adult that I was having a conversation with an old friend who was visiting. She asked me a probing question about something and my answer was a lie. I had my reasons which all seemed logical – but it was a sin! As soon as I said it, the Spirit of God convicted me. The weight of it was heavy.
Later that day when I was alone, I asked God to forgive me, and I have the promise in His Word that He did. Then I made it right with my friend by confessing it to her and asking her forgiveness.
After confessing it to God, my load was lifted! I had joy and peace once again! A lie can be forgiven…so can immorality or theft, or bitterness and hatred. There is no sin outside the reach of God’s cleansing.
You and I are not alone in this deep sorrow of our sin. Such is the case with the psalmist in Psalm 130. He wrote,
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord .
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
The psalmist is in a deep place. Self help is of no help when we are in deep places.
Where does he turn? To the Lord. He names the Lord twice here in these few verses, “it is as though he is desiring to take hold of Him with both his hands.” The psalmist is feeling the weight of his sin. Any of us who is a believer can expect the Holy Spirit to convict us when we sin. But the blessing of that conviction is that there is a place to take it. We don’t have to continue under its weight.
I have a husband who is such a gentleman. Anytime he sees me carrying something heavier than an envelope (!), he hurries to me and takes it out of my hands so that he might carry it for me. He considers it his joy as my husband, my helper, to carry my load. When I appropriate his love for me, I open my hands and give to him the load I’m carrying. Then I get to enjoy the blessing of all he is to me as my husband.
Let’s make the application about the heaviness of our sin. I John 2:1,2 says
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus is the propitiation – meaning he has the power to atone for sacrifice – intended to reconcile. Jesus is the satisfaction of God’s wrath towards our sin.
Recently I picked up a bucket of ice and moved it across our patio. My husband stepped out just as I was setting it down. ”Why are you carrying that? Why didn’t you ask me to help you?” was what he said as soon as he saw me lifting that heavy load.
That’s exactly what Jesus is saying to us – Why are you carrying the burden of your sin? I’ve already taken care of that! Why don’t you bring that load of sin to me?” The task of Him taking our sin is already done on the cross, but when we confess our sin – call it what God calls it, we are appropriating what He did for us when He died!
3 If thou, Lord , shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
“The word ‘mark’ is literally keep or watch, it seems to mean to take account of, or retain in remembrance, in order to punish.” (Maclaren)
“It is true, the Lord marks all iniquity to know it, but he doesn’t mark any iniquity in his children to condemn them for it!
V 4 – But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Years of previous relationship with God had taught the psalmist that there is, in fact, forgiveness with God. When we are hit hard with our awareness of sin, it can be hard to believe, but it is true: there is forgiveness with God.
(Spurgeon) It may be that you have sinned many times and grievously; but ‘there is forgiveness.’ Though a child of God, you have gone far astray from him; but ‘there is forgiveness.’ You have backslidden sadly and horribly; but ‘there is forgiveness.’ The devil comes and howls at you, and tells you that your doom is sealed, and your damnation is sure; but ‘there is forgiveness.’ Oh, blessed sentence!”
Do you feel the load being lifted? The weight of your sin being taken off of you and placed into the loving nail-scarred hands of Christ?
What then should be our response to God? That Thou may be feared – One of the great purposes of God’s great forgiveness is to build a sense of gratitude and reverence in those He forgives. His pardon should lead to purity and His forgiveness to an appropriate fear of displeasing the One who has been so gracious.
Thinking again of my husband carrying heavy things for me – If I’m about to lift, move or carry something heavy because I don’t want to bother him, or I’m in a hurry, and I hear him coming, I have a “fear” of him…”Denise, what are you getting ready to do?” I remember how gracious he was to me in the past. Then I stop and call him to help me.
Rather than sin, we must remember how merciful He’s been to forgive (V. 7 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy), and, have the healthy fear of displeasing our loving God!
We must remember what has already been appropriated for us – FORGIVENESS! It’s ours already. Remember it, then do what I do each time I stand before something heavy – Call out to the One Who has lifted that load so many times before and then enjoy the journey of walking with no burden of guilt in your arms!
He has already carried your load. Enjoy the freedom you have in Christ!
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