April 23rd-Evening | GUILT

Are you imprisoned by guilt? Job 33:9 says, “I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.” I read a story about a painter who wanted to paint a picture of innocence. He found and painted a little child Rupert kneeling beside his mother at prayer. The palms of his hands were reverently folded; his mild blue eyes upturned with an expression of devotion and peace. The painter named the portrait, Innocence. Years later, the same artist wanted to paint a picture of guilt to be the counterpart of his old portrait, Innocence. He purposely visited a neighboring prison and found a wretched man lying on the damp floor of a jailcell. The prisoner’s body was horribly wasted and his eyes were hollow. In a twist of irony, the painter found out that this wretch was Rupert, his inspiration for Innocence.

All of us have done things in the past that we are guilty and embarrassed of. These things haunt us to the very moment of mention. We need to learn to forgive ourselves so that we won’t be imprisoned by guilt. After all, Jesus has already forgiven us and freed us. You can’t change your past but you can do something about your future. Repent and ask God for forgiveness and forgive yourself as well. Your freedom hangs in the balance.