And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.”
— Genesis 42:22
TWENTY YEARS have passed since Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave, but his cries are still buried in the recesses of their minds. Guilt! How it lingers in our memories, only to surface again and remind us of our deeds. The brothers had successfully hidden their guilt from their dad, but it wasn’t gone. Getting rid of guilt is almost an impossible task. But it is an important task.
SIN CREATES GUILT, AND SIN IN OUR LIVES CREATES TREMENDOUS SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS.
David described what happened when he tried to hide his sin. “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer” (Psalm 32:4).
God said, “The wages of sin is death.” Sin that goes unforgiven causes us to become dead to God. We no longer see Him, feel Him, or touch Him. That is why we must get rid of guilt. It separates us from God and destroys our lives.
But how? If I’ve done something wrong, how can I undo it?
You don’t have to be punished for your sins; someone else has taken your punishment. God has made a way by sending His Son. And if you will just believe in Him, God will forgive you and make you new. He will give you a fresh start.
Father, thank You for the glorious removal of our guilt through Jesus Christ, Who has washed us and cleansed us from all of our unrighteousness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.