Innocent as Charged

I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.

-- Job 33:9

Maybe you’ve seen that popular bumper sticker. Its message reads something like this:

Christians aren’t perfect. They’re just forgiven.

OK, it might be trite. But the message is right on target. If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you’ve got quite a future ahead of you. That’s because Jesus paid the price on the cross for your sins and mine. And God no longer holds what you did in your past against you.

News doesn’t get much better than that. And with your heart, mind and soul now open to God’s direction for your life, your positive influence in the community — and around the world, for that matter — could be immense. What’s to stop you?

It’s a safe bet that the devil will try. He’s been doing it for centuries. And he continues

to do it today with one of his favorite weapons. It’s a monster called GUILT.

Even though God has wiped the slate clean for all Christ-followers, the devil has a very long memory. He’s like a stern prosecutor who reads a list of your previous faults and failures to the jury. And he loves to remind the Judge (and you) when you’re at your weakest in court.

Is it any wonder that Satan is known as The Accuser?

Unfortunately, the devil’s old trick often succeeds. For example, just think about your own past. How often does it haunt you and block your potential? Do you constantly think about all of the would-have/could-have/should-have situations in your life? Maybe it was an angry word to a family member or friend — one that you never took back? Or what about that missed opportunity to right a wrong or make a positive difference in someone’s life?

It’s true that we can’t turn back the clock and have a do-over for our past failures. But what’s all-important is that God holds none of them against us. In fact, the Bible says that he remembers them no more. Jesus’ death and resurrection cleared the slate and paid the bill.

Don’t be surprised when the devil brings up your past to bring you down. But when he does, just remember that his words are hollow and worthless. Only God’s promises have real value to Christ-followers. So with that in mind, let’s live our lives on the one declares us not guilty. It’s through our faith in Jesus that we’re innocent as charged.