I’m not sure if we, as believers, can truly understand just how loving, forgiving and merciful our God is. For him, these attributes go far beyond what any human can muster, and I would argue even far beyond what we can comprehend. Like the story of the prodigal son, God is waiting with open arms for the sinner who is returning to him. He is able to wipe away all of our offenses and remember them no more. He is able to give us a clean slate no matter what we’ve done. I don’t know of any human that can claim to have a heart like that. When the Israelites began to chase after other gods, it was like a stab in the heart of the Lord. It was a betrayal similar to that of a wife committing adultery on her husband magnified by 10,000. Many of us would consider that an unforgivable sin. But God is forgiving. He said through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 44, verse 22:
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like a morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
And earlier in chapter 43, verse 25 it says:
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgression, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Our God is like no human. His love is great. He will forgive the most grievous of sins. The number one commandment given to Moses when he received the 10 Commandments was “you shall have no other gods before me.” Even Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength”. Yet, the Israelites sinned knowing full well what they were doing. They broke the greatest commandment, and yet God was willing to forgive them; he was willing to sweep away all of their offenses like a cloud, like a morning mist. He told them to return to him for he has redeemed them. If he could forgive them for breaking the greatest of all commandments, then whatever you have done, he is willing to forgive you if you would only return to him.
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If you are away from God, I would implore you to return to him today. It doesn’t matter if you have been away from him for a few weeks or several years, his arms are open wide. Like he did for the Israelites of old, he will do for you. He will blots out your transgression, for his sake, and remembers your sins no more. How do I know? Because this is the character of God. We see his pattern of forgiveness strewn throughout the Bible. God is not like us. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. Return to him today. Allow him to swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like a morning mist. Return to him today, and he will forgive you.