condemnation – The Healing Worshipper

Pretty sure I’ve written on this subject before, but it can be revisited.

I was a terrible father. Did everything wrong. A terrible husband, terrible leader, terrible Christian. I was and am ashamed of all the mistakes I made.

Or so the enemy whispers (sometimes shouts) in my ear, my heart, my soul.

Do you feel this way sometimes, maybe lots of times?

The apostle Paul said in Romans 8, “There is therefore now no condemnation.” How is that even possible when I know perfectly well that I am RIGHTLY condemned. I am guilty.

Paul also said that he was the worst (1 Timothy 1). Shoot, he spent most of Romans 7 talking about not being able to stop sinning.

Guilt is universal.

So how can we believe that there is no condemnation? How can anyone have the temerity, the nerve to say there is now no condemnation?

In Christianity we talk about getting to heaven and facing the “judgement seat”. The idea is passed down that we will stand before Jesus and be shown a “movie” of our lives, with the whole world watching. When I think about that and remember so many of the the things I’ve done, even as a little child, I wonder how I will ever face this event.

Then it comes to me, I’m just going to look at Him. I think I can handle what anyone thinks of me, including myself, if I just look at Him.

There are artists who have depicted Jesus on the judgement seat, stern, cold, disappointed.

But in light of the CROSS, and Romans 8 says, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ,” I think all I will see is love. All I will hear is, “this one is mine.”

And that’s where I should be looking now. The voices of condemnation don’t heal. Even the overwhelming guilt doesn’t lead me to repentance. You can’t pay for what you’ve done, the ripples go far beyond our reach.

Stop looking at you. Keep looking at Him.

And tell the voices to shut up.

Temptations wax and wane. Sometimes they’re overwhelming. Sometimes, well, they’re easy. It’s like he’s not even trying.

This is not one of those times.

Interesting what our enemy says to us that gets us. For me, one of the best weapons seems to be the reminders of just how wicked I am. How much of a loser. How much of a failure.

It would seem like that would have the opposite effect. Particularly when addressed to someone who likes a fight as much as I do.

I learned two things that I really despise while I was in the Army. The first is where someone tells you that there’s only one more mile to go when there are eight. The second is like it. It’s when someone tells you the end is twelve miles away when it is two. I just want honesty.

The first one lies by saying you’re almost there when you aren’t. The second lies by saying it’s too far.

That is what satan’s voice says so much. Pointing out all my weaknesses, all my inadequacies, he runs the reel of how I’ll never make it, I’ll never be worth anything. And so I just want to quit, to give in.

The reality is, to the world, to most people, I am a loser. But then I look in my God’s eyes. I hear his voice in the bible that I read. I realize that I am chosen. I am called. I am loved.

Have you ever noticed that, if you can’t see, stepping in mud, on a cupcake or in dog poop all feels about the same. If you turn on a light, you can see what it is, wash it off and walk on. If it’s mud or a cupcake, and you’re marching for the King, don’t worry about it. If the accuser throws some crap in your path, it never has to be something we hold onto.

Wash it off. And, walk on.

Now I know I’m making light of what can be so heavy to bear, so crushing to face. But our armor is on, our weapons are made for “pulling down strongholds.” And we serve a King who cannot be defeated.

So yeah. When satan accuses, when my own heart condemns me, wash it off. Wash it off with what Jesus did. Wash it off with the Word of God. Wash it off by resting in the “peace that passes all understanding.”

Wash it off and walk on.

The Healing Worshipper

Tag: condemnation

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