Mercifully Forgetful

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, 
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12

I watched “Darkest Hour,” last night, which is a film on Winston Churchill’s selection as prime minister of England even as the country faces the aggressively advancing Nazi threat. The man had many open and obvious failures. He smoked too much and drank too much. The outcomes of his decisions and judgments prior to becoming prime minister made him an uncertain candidate for some. Yet, his boldness and intuition are what made him the man for his time and circumstances. For all of his faults he inspired his nation and led them to victory over Hitler and the Third Reich. Churchhill was able to move beyond failure (and success) in order to address the moment before him.

What is the relevance to Hebrews 8:12? As children of God, we must remember that the Lord’s forgiveness grants us liberty from the failures of our past. The Lord’s process of sanctification can only have a victorious outcome. The Lord’s grace is abundantly available to us in each present moment.

The Lord is mercifully forgetful, and as he has presently placed himself to the right of the Father and interceding on our behalf, we must direct also our focus to the present working of God in us and through us.

-C.R.