How Many Sins Are Too Many?

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:23

 

“But God showed  HIS great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”

Romans 5:8

 

“If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

1 John 1:9

 

Do you ever just need a GRACE reminder?  I know I do!  

 

I was taking a sweet young friend of mine to the mall for a fun light day of shopping and snacks.  My “young” friend is 14 and she is never at a loss for words, meaning the child can talk and never take a breath for at least 32 straight minutes.  When we spend the day together we will ping pong conversation back and forth, from topics such as food, friends, past mistakes, family, texting,  future hopes and dreams, sleeping, clothes, movies, weekend plans and then out of nowhere she will pull out the deepest questions of her soul.  I won’t even see it coming but in those surprise moments I lift up that silent prayer as I listen–“God please fill my mouth with YOUR WORDS. If I don’t get this one right, I could hurt her forever.  “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”(Ps 81:10). I am claiming that promise right now, dear Lord!   Please give me YOUR wisdom, show me YOUR TRUTH and enable me to speak it in such a way that she understands and becomes hungry for your written WORD herself!”

 

As we parked the car in the covered garage of the mall, she turns to me with wide eyes and sincerely asks,”How many sins are too many?”  I say, “What do you mean?”  “You know, how many sins is too many for God to forgive?”  My heart almost stopped as I looked at her and saw the anticipation of a specific number, a hopefulness that she hadn’t passed it yet and a sadness that she thought it was probably too late.  God had given me an opportunity to share the message of his GRACE. I slowly paused, prayed my prayer, believed HIS promise and presented HIS TRUTH!

 

“There is not a number sweet girl.  God’s promise says, “If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.   He makes us new and clean.  He remembers our sin no more!  All sins are the same in HIS eyes, it is only the worldly consequences that differ.  A murderer will go to prison and a lier will not be trusted, but in God’s eyes each are equally forgivable when a confession is made and a life turns to HIM!  As long as we are still breathing in and out on this earth, we have an opportunity to say we are truly sorry and let HIM change us into HIS likeness.   We can not cross a line, reach a number, or commit the unforgivable with a God of Grace.  Grace is not deserved or earned.  It is a free gift to us that cost Christ HIS life.  Grace is not grace if we have to be good enough.  Jesus Christ was the payment for our sins.”

 

She responds, “So what you are saying is that I could not have already been too bad to get better and go to heaven?”  “Yes, that is what I am saying–you are never so bad that you can’t get better and be forgiven!”  A sweet smile covers her face, she grabs her purse, opens the car door and says, “Should we eat or shop first?”

 

As I process the change in conversation and silently thank God for this impromptu reminder of Grace and the importance of sharing it when given the chance, I simply laugh and say,”Shop!”

 

If you haven’t already, open the door to Jesus in your heart.   Tell him you are sorry for your  sins, accept HIS grace and move forward in HIS light.  Share HIM every time you have the chance.  Remember, no one, including yourself, is ever to far gone or reached a sin number that is too high for God to cover through Christ.

 

GO GOD