Happily Forgiven

The grief which accords with God produces a repentance without regret, resulting in salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

“Of all the words of tongue or pen, these are the saddest: It might have been.” But God’s way frees us from such regret. It is a way of tears, but it ends in joy. When we see the mistake of living in opposition to God, when we see the error of competing with our Creator, when we see the fallacy of trusting in ourselves, we can grieve over our arrogant foolishness. For we see that such a way of living keeps us from experiencing the goodness of God’s grace. This grief moves us to abandon the pleasures of sin, which bring only temporary joy and promise eternal pain. It moves us to approach the pleasures that produce holiness, the pleasures that come from fellowship with the Father and the Son. Gladly should we leave behind pride in our position, our power, our possessions. Forgiveness flows from God-centered grief. The joy of eternal life awaits such repentance.

Thank you, Lord, for this joyful certainty: I will have no regrets if I seek your forgiveness. Grant me grief over my disbelief in your goodness. Amen.