(excerpt from Morning Meditations by Martin Wiles)
Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (NIV)
I noticed it immediately after eating out my first time while visiting Canada. I had encountered the same scenario in New England.
Living in the southern part of the United States, ice in glasses is a staple and lots of it. But not in Canada or New England. I suppose in the colder climates it’s not as necessary or desired. So my glass was filled with eight or ten cubes of ice instead of to the brim as I was accustomed. In the South such a measly amount of ice would quickly melt and deliver a warm drink. So we smother our drinks with frozen cubes which melt and render a watered down drink if not consumed quickly.
Isaiah’s covering was not cool. Instead, in his majestic vision of God wherein he was called into God’s service, an angelic being touched his lips with a searing coal. Then came the pronouncement; “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt it taken away.” This was after Isaiah had pronounced about himself what the apostle Paul later would of all people: we are sinners (Romans 3:23).
Forgiveness results when our sins are covered by God’s grace. Our guilt is removed when we request God’s mercy. He has atoned for our sins by placing them on his Son at Calvary, and it was a painful episode. Through faith we are crucified with Christ and enjoy all the benefits of belonging to God’s family.
After forgiveness, feeling guilt is no longer necessary for past confessed sins. And guilt for present and future sins should only be experienced until confession is made. God’s forgiveness is complete. He removes the penalty for our past, present and future sins. No longer are we under condemnation. Our eternity is sealed, and our present life can be lived abundantly. We are grace smothered.
Prayer: Thank You Father for the gift of forgiveness experienced as a result of Your grace.
(photo courtesy of graur codrin at www.freedigitalphotos.net)