Devotional - 98-10-26 - It Felt So Good

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Dennis J. (I'm going to protect the last name), from Preston, OH, was found screaming in his home from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The wound turned out to be a self-inflicted wound from a .22 caliber rifle. When the police asked him why he had shot himself, he replied that he, "wanted to know what it felt like."

Everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes it is an error in judgment, othertimes...well, mistakes come in all forms and sizes. One of the great advantages we have as Christians is that forgiveness is near when we make a mistake that is sin.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

We all fall into sinful actions or habits that we need to confess before the mercy seat of grace. But we can know that these sins, by the blood of Christ, have been removed from our account and crucified with Christ.

But often we behave like Dennis J. did. Upon his release from the hospital he was once again found shot with the same self-inflicted wound. When he was asked why he did it again, he said, "It felt so good." We are not much different often, than Mr. J., when it comes to sin. We often return to our sin because it feels good.

I cannot but help imagine that God looks upon our returning to sin much as we probably have responded to Mr. Js' falling into the same mindless act twice. Mr. J., says, "it feels so good". Rationally we look at this and think, time to get that head examined. So God, looking down at us in our sin says, "If you only knew, if you would only obey me, if you would only live up to your calling and position as a Child of the King of the Universe...", and at that very moment we are often saying, but, "It feels so good".

Sin comes with a promise, "For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23, but the verse does not end there (as many suppose who only hear the first threatening part of the verse quoted), the verse goes on, "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We all sin and when we do, confession awaits us, Christ awaits us, eternal life awaits us, and that will "feel so good".

Soli Deo Gloria,
Tim

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