Psalm 103:12

NASB – As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. 

NLT – He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

VOICE – You see, God takes all our crimes – our seemingly inexhaustible sins – and removes them. He removes them from us. 

Sins Are Forgiven

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the east and west were viewed as opposite ends of the earth. This mindset being used to talk about our separation of sins, shows us the power of God’s forgiveness. It reminds us that we are no longer who we are in those sins, but who we are through God, our Creator. Unless north and south, which have definitive points – east and west are used as an image of immeasurable distance, which again shows the boundless nature of God’s forgiveness. The removal of our sins is God’s act of grace and mercy. In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was about the symbolic removal of Israel’s sin through the scapegoat ritual. This involved sending a goat out into the wilderness, carrying the sins of the people away. This previewed the sacrificial act of Jesus, who carried the sins of humanity to the cross. Overall, this shows us that God doesn’t just cover our sins, but takes them away completely. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does it mean to you that your sins are taken away from you through the sacrifice of Christ and God’s forgiveness? 

Knowing that our sins are removed should allow us to live in the freedom and joy of God’s grace. Unfortunately, our culture tends to hold those sins against us, both right and wrong. We’ve seen a rise in cancel culture over the last decade, where people tend to call out the sinful/harmful behavior of a prominent celebrity, politician, and influencer that causes a divide amongst their fanbase. In politics, we tend to see it with marriage fidelity, sexual immorality, and more. In influencers/internet celebrities, we tend to see financial issues, racism, bigotry, homophobia, and more. It could be a recent issue, or something that they had posted years ago, people will find it and hold that person accountable. This is needed truthfully. We need each other to keep us accountable, but that accountability comes from our own internal understanding of right versus wrong. There are certain universal ideals that the great majority of humans tend to agree on, but holding the accountability of right or wrong on us – is not. We, especially Christians, need to reflect God’s grace and mercy. It’s one thing to hold them accountable and teach them why what they did was wrong, but it’s another thing to weaponize the past or refuse the possibility of growth. When we’re constantly reminding them of someone’s behavior, creating judgment, condemnation, and disdain towards them, we’re losing out on what God’s mercy is all about. If you cannot treat someone with the proper grace and mercy after their sinful behavior, and your words to point them through love doesn’t get through to them, then when reconciliation is unsafe or impossible, respectful distance may be the healthiest path. Accountability can be loving when it protects others and invites true change. Don’t give your energy to them, and re-route it to do something that God has called you to do. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How have you seen cancel culture impact your life? What do you take away from the impact of it?