After the Fall

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.” – John 8:10-11

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend some months ago. He is a pastor’s son. With his hands covering his face, he said,

Becky; I don’t think God ever wants to see me in church; I feel like He hates me, He doesn’t love me, He’s disappointed in me, He’s angry whenever I show up in church, He’s tired of me….

On and on, he went affirming all the lies the devil has made him believe. Sadly, he’s not the only one wearing this shoe. A lot of us run away from God each time we fall. We stop going to church because we feel God wants nothing to do with us. We stop reading the Bible and praying and run away from everything and anything that has to do with God.

I’ve got good news for you. Remember the woman caught in adultery? What did Jesus do? He said, “NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU”. Every sin in your past, present and future are not greater than the blood of Jesus. God has already made provision for the forgiveness of all our sins through the blood of Jesus. While God’s continuous forgiveness does not encourage continuous sinning, it presents God’s unlimited redemptive grace for everyone willing to return to Him.

From today’s text, Jesus said the publican is more justified because he acknowledged his sin, weaknesses, and shortcomings before the Father. There is no need to run from God or hide in shame, the father is always ready to welcome home any child that fell in sin. He will not cast you out if you can just return to him. The prodigal son returned to the father and he was restored. God will restore you today as you humbly come to the throne of grace to obtain his infinite mercy.

Beloved, after a fall, get closer to God, His mercies are new every morning. If you had run away, come back today, the Father awaits your return.