A Future and a Hope

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

This verse is the inspiration for one of my favorite songs by Christian music artists Casting Crowns. They sing, “I know You’ve cast my sin as far as the east is to the west, and I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned.” The chorus goes on to say, “‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west, from one scarred hand to the other.” The song gets me every time I hear it.

I love the thought that it is all compared to the distance from the east to the west. Why? Because there is no end. The east will never meet the west or vice versa. They will go on indefinitely, always far apart.

That is how far His forgiveness extends. His forgiveness is endless, without limit. It will never end because He loves us that much, that deeply, that intently. This metaphor shows us just how infinite His forgiveness really is. It is not something fleeting or temporary. It stretches on and on with no end.

Because His love is endless, we know His forgiveness is, too. This should fill us with joy and peace. We should not feel any guilt or shame for what we did in the past. We can have full and complete confidence in Him to forgive us because we see verses like this. And our response should be to extend the same grace to others and forgive them.

If you have never listened to East to West by Casting Crowns I highly recommend you do so.

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