Now this is what the Lord says – the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel – Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 CSB
Do you ever feel like you have made so many mistakes and bad choices in your life that you can never be loved or redeemed by God? This is the exact message that Satan wants us to get. He wants us to feel like we are a lost cause. Many people get their signals crossed and what they think is truth is a lie. God does reveal our sin to us, and the Holy Spirit’s job is to convict us, but conviction is not condemnation. Condemnation is the work of the devil. It is to sentence, to punish. Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit and it is to bring to light, or to draw attention to something. Condemnation brings a blanket of guilt and conviction, when we respond to it, brings a blanket of grace.
God is love. It is not just a characteristic of Him, it is His entire being. Therefore, the critical voices of condemnation in our lives cannot be from Him but from the enemy. The Holy Spirit brings conviction but in a way that shines a light on the better choice – God. The Holy Spirit brings our sin to light but also brings to light the goodness, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. Satan distorts God’s character and fills our head with the lies that we are not good enough to receive God’s goodness, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. That is the true voice of condemnation. Even in correcting us, God works from a foundation of love.
God does make us aware of our sin but not for the purpose of shaming us or condemning us to a life of disgrace. He convicts us so we will confess and let Him change us. Then, He brings us back into communion with Him. Because of Jesus taking our place on Calvary, we can be reconciled with God in our forgiveness. The gap of sin that separated us from God is forever gone.
God alone is the only one who is ever qualified to condemn us, and He will never condemn us. In our sin, in our worst moments, at our lowest, He only offers grace. Condemnation pushes us away from Him and grace draws us into Him. Even if your past is littered with one bad choice after another, it can be used for His glory. Your life is a living testament to His grace. He takes our sordid pasts and turns them into a beautiful future. There is always a way out and it is never backwards. Dwelling in our mistakes is living in the condemnation of the enemy. The hope of the future lies in conviction, repentance and grace.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
