Etch A Sketch Forgiveness

<p>The little red rectangular box was magical. As a kid, I could play with it for hours. When I turned one knob on the box, I could create a horizontal line on its screen. Turn the other knob and voila&mdash;a vertical line. When I turned the knobs together, I could make diagonal lines, circles, and creative designs. But the real magic came when I turned my Etch A Sketch toy upside down, shook it a little and turned it right side up. A blank screen appeared, offering me the opportunity to create a new design.</p> <p>God&rsquo;s forgiveness works much like that Etch A Sketch game. He wipes away our sins, creating a clean canvas for us. Even if we remember wrongs we committed, God chooses to forgive and forget. He&rsquo;s wiped them out and doesn&rsquo;t hold our sins against us. He doesn&rsquo;t treat us according to our sinful actions (Psalm 103:10), but extends grace through forgiveness. We have a clean slate&mdash;a new life awaiting us when we seek God&rsquo;s forgiveness. We can be rid of guilt and shame because of His amazing gift to us.</p> <p>The psalmist reminds us that our sins have been separated from us as the east is separated from the west (v. 12). That&rsquo;s as far away as you can get! In God&rsquo;s eyes, our sins no longer cling to us like a scarlet letter or a bad drawing. That&rsquo;s reason to rejoice and to thank God for His amazing grace and mercy.</p>