I woke up this morning and didn't want to face the day. I wanted to cover my head and avoid it all. So I sat in my pouty mood and had a small pity party because I'm super mature. ;) But then I got up and, as I was getting ready for the day, God put a song in my heart and I started singing. It's an old hymn but it is so relevant to my life today. I hope that, by sharing it with you, it can help you on days you'd like to check out instead of getting up. It's called Before the Throne of God Above and here are the lyrics:
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
Written by Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft
"To look on Him and pardon me." That line can bring me to tears. God Almighty looked at His perfect Son on the cross and said that, even though my sin put Him there, He forgives me completely. God declares me innocent, holy, and blameless in His sight. This declaration is not meant to ignore my sin or to say it's not sin anymore. Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. The punishment was not altered. The punishment for sin is still death. What changed was who the punishment was carried out on. Who paid the ultimate price. Who got the blame, the sentence. Those all changed.
"My soul is purchased by His blood." Jesus stepped in front of us and took the rap for us. And instead of the punishment of death and eternal separation from God, we get freedom and eternal life with God! What a mystery it is that God chose and will always choose to love us unconditionally. Always and, quite literally, forever.
So when we wake up and feel defeated, He is ever faithful to remind us that He will never leave us or forsake us because His love endures forever.
