Read
Psalm 32
Consider
Amid a pandemic, physical illness isolates us from our loved ones. In the last two years of the pandemic, I have been in physical isolation two times. The first time was 2 years ago March 2020, I had breakfast with a young adult before the lockdown. A few days later he told me he got COVID. At that time, we did not have enough knowledge about the virus and there were no guidelines on isolation. I self-isolated myself from families and kept a physical distance from them. It was not a good experience at all. Recently, I got sick and needed to be isolated for 10 days. It was a time for reflection and at the same time, felt the pain of the isolation from friends and families.
What about spiritual isolation from God? There will be spiritual pain and loneliness as we are isolated from God because God is the source of joy and peace. One might argue that our sins and transgressions separated us from God. I would argue that it is the unconfessed sins that isolate us from God. In Psalm 32:3-4, Psalmist David expressed his emotion and helplessness, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” When King David kept silent, he was spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausted. It may be the guilt feelings from the unconfessed sins that filled his heart and mind. It drained his energy away from him. David might think he was his only hiding place. He hid all the sins and transgressions from everyone and God, and he was all alone.
The gospel of Jesus Christ removes all the spiritual loneliness. The scripture said, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.“ (1 John 2:1-2). Everyone will sin and we are all sinners. But Jesus Christ, our atoning sacrifice takes care of our sins, and He is our defense. We no longer have to defend our own and as the matter of fact, we cannot. God does require one thing from us though, we need to confess our sins as he is faithful and just, He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). God is our only hiding place. As we sin, we no longer need to be alone. We can run to our fortress and hiding place, He will forgive us. We can only experience the joy of forgiveness when we confess our sin before our faithful and forgiving God.
Hope to see you in-person or online at worship this Sunday.
Pastor Julian Wong
Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your love and faithfulness. Because of you, Lord Jesus, I can experience the joy of forgiveness. Holy Spirit, please remind me that God is our only hiding place. I do not have to hide and run away from God. Instead, I run to our God and confess our sins. [CONFESS YOUR SINS IN FRONT OF GOD HERE].
I rest assured that God will forgive me in our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for your everlasting love and presence.
In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
Diving Deeper
Are there any unconfessed sins and transgressions in our lives?
Have you ever experience the emotion of powerlessness? At that time, how close were you to God?
How can we live closer WITH GOD in our lives?
How are we being TRANSFORMED to be more like Christ?
How is the Holy Spirit empowering us to imitate Christ in what we DO this week?