No Fishing Allowed
by Patty Kamahele, Administrative Assistant
1 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for Your help. 2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. 3 Lord, if You kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You. 5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. 6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. (Psalm 130)
Have you ever done something and wondered if you can ever be forgiven for it? It changes from seemingly “little offenses” when we are kids, into adulthood when we know what we’ve done can affect our lives and even the lives of others.
It’s wondrous to know that God does not keep a record of our sins. For if He did, as this psalm says, “Who could ever survive?” (I remember wondering about my survival if my dad ever found out we snuck some cigarettes from his car when we were teenagers! Stupidest thing ever!)
But God removes our sins through His Son Jesus and places them into the "Sea of Forgetfulness.” And then, as Corrie ten Boom said, He puts up a sign that says, “No Fishing Allowed!” As far as the East is from the West (which never meet), He has removed our sins from us. Amazing Grace.
And in these days of uncertainty, pandemic, and conflict, we must be reminded that our hope needs to be in the Lord and His Word. In his commentary on Psalm 130, Chuck Swindoll says, “That’s what this Psalmist’s trust is all about: Hope in God and what He has said [His Word]. For hope is a knowledge of something to come that has yet to be realized. But we know it will and we will not be disappointed!”
What a wonderful thought that we won’t be disappointed with all God has awaiting us if we place our faith in His Son. So during this season of Lent, may we reflect on these things about our Lord:
He is with us in our despair. Call for help. He WILL hear and pay attention to our needs.
He doesn’t keep a record of our sins but offers forgiveness through His Son as we come to Him.
Put your hope and trust in Him and His Word.
He is filled with unfailing and unconditional love.
His redemption overflows for we were bought with a great price.
Reach out to our faithful God. Receive His forgiveness. He is there to meet us where we’re at.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your Son Jesus, in whom we find great mercy. Through Him, You have removed our sins as far as the east is from the west…“from one scarred hand to the other.”
Please take a few moments to click and listen to this beautiful song, “East to West” by Casting Crowns.
