What Are You Talking About?

H

e hadn’t meant to say those words.  They had just slipped out in a moment of anger, a brief instant when he had lost his cool and said something he didn’t mean to someone he cared very deeply for.  If he could only take back those sharp, stinging barbs his tongue had launched just seconds before; but it was too late.  They had found their mark, bull’s eye, dead center, right in the heart.  The look on Greg’s face said it all. It was a mixture of disbelief coupled with unbearable agony and betrayal. 

Although he had apologized and Greg had forgiven him, Chuck could still see Greg’s painful expression.  Despite all his efforts he couldn’t get it out of his mind and on more than one occasion in the past 10 years he had replayed that conversation over and over in his mind.  True, he and Greg had been able to get their relationship back on track, but it never seemed to be quite the same from Chuck’s perspective.  Now he was making his way back home to visit Greg; to express his sympathy for the loss of Greg’s father.

“How am I going to face him?” was the only thing Chuck could say to himself.  The entire journey was dominated by this one thought.  The radio was no solace and at night sleep escaped him.  He knew it would be difficult but before he could really express heartfelt sympathy, Chuck had to have Greg’s forgiveness.  There was simply no way around it.

So, when he arrived at Greg’s house, they exchanged pleasantries.  Although Greg had lost his father, he seemed to be his old self, welcoming his friend into his home and was so thankful for his presence during this time.  When Chuck mustered enough courage, he asked to speak with Greg alone for just a few moments.  Greg gladly accommodated him and the two took a stroll in the backyard.  Chuck cut straight to the chase and told Greg how sorry he was about that day so long ago when he blurted out something he shouldn’t have.  Once again, Greg’s face displayed deep emotion.  But instead of pain, this was a look of bewilderment.

Chuck just stared at his friend.  He was totally unprepared for Greg’s response, “What are you talking about?”  Chuck thought this was some kind of cruel joke on Greg’s part.  Surely he remembered that day.  Surely he still felt the pain and the sting Chuck’s words had delivered.  But honestly, Greg didn’t remember.  For the past 10 years Chuck had carried a burden he didn’t need to shoulder and that burden had placed a great distance between him and his best friend.  So, there in the backyard, Greg and Chuck started all over again, renewing their friendship and this time it was better than it had ever been.

Have you ever been in Chuck’s shoes?  Sure, we all have.  In fact, this is the way most of us approach our relationship to God.  We carry around our former sins, mistakes, blunders, and failures.  Although God has forgiven us, we keep dragging them up, reminding him of all the wrongs we have committed.  We can’t get beyond our dirty laundry and we feel obligated to air it every time we come to God in prayer.

But God isn’t interested in our past.  In fact, he has forgotten all about it.  Psalm 103:12 gives us this assurance, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  No wonder God has forgotten.  Do you see how far he has removed our sins?  East and west will never meet—not now, not ever.  When we bring up our past God simply says to us, “What are you talking about?”  His forgiveness erases our sins and puts us back in right standing with him.  We can start our relationship with him on sure footing, knowing that he holds nothing against us but opens his arms wide to embrace us.  God wants to move on, to further our relationship with him and to grow closer to us. Let’s not keep him at arm’s length by concentrating on something he has taken off our shoulders.  Honestly, as far as our sins are concerned, God hasn’t a clue as to what we’re talking about!  If he doesn’t care about it, why should we?