In the two and a half years since I retired, we have had the opportunity to visit with a lot of friends and reestablish connections with people we had not seen in quite some time. In some cases, we had not seen these people for thirty or forty years. It has been fun catching up and remembering the times we had together in college and seminary days.

As part of that remembering, we recalled things we did back then that were foolish and stupid and not in keeping with God’s desire for our lives. We were amazed that we survived! And on more than one occasion, someone said, “I’m just glad they didn’t have cell phones with video cameras back then!”

We all have things in our lives we should not have done, that we would like to forget or keep from others. Whether there is a video record of our misdeeds or not, they were done. We know what we did. And so does God. Nothing is hidden from Him. That is a frightening thought, a stern proclamation of God’s Law.

Psalm 69:5 You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Even though God knows all about our sin, He does not want to punish us for it. He never did. That is why He promised to send a Savior immediately after the first sin. That is why He kept that promise and sent His Son down here. Jesus was our substitute, lived without sin and took our place in punishment. Those who believed God’s promise before Jesus came were forgiven. Those who believed in Jesus once He got here were also forgiven. And those who believe in Him still today receive the forgiveness and life and salvation that He accomplished for us.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

When we admit our sin and ask God to forgive, He does so. We have His word on it. And then He forgets all about our sin.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

We have that blessed assurance because of our faith in Jesus. But those without faith in Jesus will, unfortunately, be held accountable for their sins. They will not get the forgiveness Jesus earned. It is available to everyone, freely, because Jesus already paid the price.

Those of us who live in the certainty of God’s grace need to ask ourselves what we can do to help others discover this wonderful news.