How did you respond when hearing the news that President Biden had preemptively pardoned many people, including his own family, that he felt might be “targeted” for prosecution by the incoming administration and political party in power? My emotions ran white hot from anger and frustration to indignation and a desire to make sure my position was known to those close to me.
Now, my sister and brother, you understand the compounding anger and evil that Satan spews towards each of us day. ‘God,’he must petition, ‘how could and can you forgive these wretched and sinful people’, I can hear him saying as he roams the Heavens. And I can hear our Father in Heaven saying, “because I made them and gave my only son to die for their sins who rose from death three days later, to prevent them from receiving the death and misery that you, Satan, desire to entrap them in for eternity. I have forgiven their past and present sins and preemptively forgiven their future sins as they pursue a sinless and righteous life. I have chosen and delivered Grave and Mercy to those undeserving and loved with my ridiculous love. My beautifully broken creations can choose to accept my preemptively given forgiveness or reject this lifeline and accept eternal death deserved.”
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,”. Ephesians 2:4 ESV
As I pondered in my frustration and indignation for the purely political pardons granted on the way out, God stepped in. He took my moment of self-righteous judgement and inserted joy. Thankfulness. Incredible gratitude. I once again accepted the Grace and Mercy freely given for my sins.
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.” Daniel 9:9 ESV
So this morning I choose to look to the horizon. I choose to thank God for this new day. I thank my Father in Heaven for preemptively having forgiven the sins of my future through the sacrificial death of Jesus on that wretched cross. I choose to grow in my awareness of what causes me to sin and take steps to stop these things. I choose to eliminate the temptations of desire, envy, jealousy, comparison and on and on and turn my eyes upon Jesus. I choose to look full in his wonderful face. I choose to see that the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.
“Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:10-13 NLT
The importance of what lies in our future make the wrongs of yesterday insignificant. Choose today to reject the trap of anger and bitterness past. They are prisons that the Evil One desires to keep you chained to. Choose today to accept the wings that will cause you to soar like an eagle, offered freely by the Savior because of the plan prepared for your life.
Joe Biden, I am glad that you are gone. My human flesh wants to condemn you and your actions. The log in my own eye prevents me from meting out my flawed judgement and (in)justice. I choose to accept what God has preemptively paid for me. Eternal life and life of purpose on this earth.
You’ve got this.