However the truth is that we need guilt. It is the only proper response to any offense, whether driving over the speed limit, relishing a selfish thought, or even premeditated murder. Even if you aren't a spiritual person you'd want the burglar that broke into your house to feel guilty right? Why? Because he should. Guilt exposes the truth that we wish to avoid: we have sinned.
The bible says: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
But wait, it gets better: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Guilt does more that deliver distressing news, it also unlocks the door to forgiveness, which leads to confession.
Confession works against the worst part of human nature, the part that imagines itself to be better that it really is. How many times have we heard, "well, I'm not perfect, but at least I'm not as bad as so and so."
This mindset always stop short of confessing, it would rather ignore or ease feelings of guilt rather than admit them. Only when we admit that we have sinned, unworthy of God's grace, can we make a fresh start.
I think C.S. Lewis said it best: "no man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good."
1 comment:
excellent!
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