by Phil Sanders

"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!" (Psalm 32:1,2)

Forgiveness is not forgetting but "forgetting against." When God forgives us, He no longer counts our sins against us (2 Cor. 5:19) so that we might be reconciled to Him (2 Cor. 5:20).

Humans cannot undo the past, but God can forget our past sins against us so that we are no longer guilty. Psalm 85:2,3 says of God: "You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger."

David, who sinned with Bathsheba and killed Uriah, understood the terrible guilt and pain of sin; but he also understood the joy of forgiveness. He wrote and sang these words that gave him comfort,

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,     Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.     He will not always strive with us,     Nor will He keep His anger forever.     He has not dealt with us according to our sins,     Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.     For as high as the heavens are above the earth,     So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.     As far as the east is from the west,     So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8-12)

When we realize our sins are forgiven at the cost of the precious blood of the Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:18-19), we must forever humble our hearts in gratitude for His amazing love and sacrifice. That realization ought to call us to determine never again to do such things. Having a close, loving relationship with God is the most blessed thing we can ever have. Let us always find joy in our salvation.

by Phil Sanders

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Today is the best day you have to do a kindness, to lift up a broken-hearted friend, to study God’s Word, to pray, or to tell a friend about the Lord. Today is the best day, because it is really the only day you have. Tomorrow is gone, and tomorrow is but a presumption.

John Mason (1706-1773) said, “As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every minute of time.” Moments keep coming but, once passed, cannot be reclaimed or redone. This is why making every moment’s record be for good rather than ill is so important. We truly do trade a piece of lives for the moments we live.

The philosopher Nietzsche believed that “God is dead.” What he meant is that God no longer lived in the lives of people. Nietzsche himself had been a seminary student but had been tempted by prostitutes. Contracting a social disease, which ate at his body and his mind, Nietzsche wrote ceaselessly of life without God. He died a madman.

When people cast God out of their lives, they also cast out the very reason for their existence. They end up without hope and without purpose. They may leave a mark, as Nietzsche did; but it will be a harmful mark, leading to despondency and hopelessness.

The days are indeed evil, even when God is in our lives. That is why a close, loving relationship with the Lord is so needed.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). The most foolish thing we can do is to “despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7). If we are to live wise and productive lives, the first thing we must do is to come to know the Holy One. The world is dark and evil, because it does not know Him. Life, love, joy, hope, peace, wisdom, and grace all find their source in God.

Today is the best day you have to serve God and to serve others. Why not make the most of your time by letting God in your life and letting His love work through you. That is truly making the most of your time and is the only thing that lasts beyond this life. All else will be forgotten.

by Phil Sanders

No doubt you will see on the grocery store checkout counters tabloids that will predict the events of the coming year.

I keep thinking I'll buy one and save it till December to see how much came true. It's not so much that I am fascinated by the predictions of the so-called seers and prophets. Rather, I know they have no ability at all.

Solomon said, "I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them" (Ecclesiastes 8:11,12).

Things don't always turn out the way they were planned or prophesied, when men do the prophesying.

Jean Dixon was a famous prognosticator in the 50s and 60s. She predicted who would be nominated and who would be elected President in the 1952, 1956 and 1960 elections. She missed every guess.

Jean Dixon is very unlike God, who never misses a prophecy. Isaiah wrote by inspiration in 46:8-10:

"Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'"

Unlike the tabloids, the predictions of the Lord come to be true. We can have confidence in God because we know that he tells us the truth every time.

This is reassuring, for we know that his promises will also come true. I wouldn't want it any other way.

by Phil Sanders

David Barton said, “We know that between 1992 and 1996, Christian voter turnout declined in America 17 percent. We know that between 1996 and 2000, it declined an additional 23 percent, so we’ve had a 40 percent drop in Christian voter turnout over the last four elections ... Because of the attrition of Christians over the last four elections—we’ve lost several godly, God-fearing {people} out of the Senate.... So, part of {the problem} is that we don’t get Christians to the polls.” Pundits on television are saying the election favored conservative candidates, because Americans voted more strongly for moral issues in this election than in many years. Eleven states overwhelmingly voted in favor of traditional marriage values. Perhaps one lesson of this election is in seeing what godly people can do when they find the courage to speak up against moral evil. For too long Christians have sat silent while the politically correct badgered them into retreat. If there was ever a time in our land when God needs a strong, clear voice to speak out against evil and for good, it is now! Postmodern America would like to tell God to “shut up” and “go away.” This is not really new. Ancient Israel faced some of the same kinds of problems. When they demanded Samuel give them a king, God knew they had forsaken Him for other gods (1 Sam. 8:8-9). Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers (2 Chron. 28:6). In the days of Jeremiah, God mourned, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). God looked for a man to stand in the gap before Him in the days of Ezekiel, but He found no one (Ezek. 22:30). Thankfully, there were godly souls who did stand in the gap today, souls who said no to sin and yes to God’s way. The greatest need of our day is for godly people to point to God for all the answers to life’s questions. There is a great need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that we as a nation of people might see the truth and come back to our God. Your voice matters.

by Phil Sanders

Every Christian struggles with temptation regularly. Often people make terrible decisions, which can cost them greatly. Sin has terrible consequences that cost far more than the pleasure the sin might bring.

Moses wisely reasoned the cost of sin, "choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward" (Hebrews 11:25,26).

In making moral decisions, a wise Christian will weigh out the cost at a time when he is not being tempted, when his thinking is clear. We all find ourselves vulnerable at times. Here are some things to think about before you make a bad decision:

Will doing this grieve the Lord who redeemed me from sin? If I do this and am caught, will it drag God's holy name through the mud? How can I look Jesus, the righteous judge who suffered for me, in the eye on the Day of Judgment and account for my actions? Will my actions place untold pain and shame upon my family? Will I lose my family's respect if I do this? Will my family and friends be willing to forgive me for my sin? Will this behavior destroy my example and influence on family and friends? Even if God can forgive me, will I be able to forgive myself? Will Satan, the enemy of God and all good, be pleased with my behavior? Will this bring lifelong shame upon me and upon my loved ones?

Sin carries a higher price tag than most will pay, if they had thought through the cost.

Paul said, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7,8,ESV).

Some people foolishly think they can sin and get away with it. God always catches them, and they always catch themselves. You can't fool God or yourself.

A little wisdom today can help us avoid terrible pain tomorrow.