New Horizons SDA Church

Col. 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV

Col. 2:14 Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. The Message 

Today I shared with you two readings of the same verse as I really like what the way it is in The Message, which is a paraphrase. It is highly impacting to me because of its use of the, "slate wiped clean". 

I want to take you back to 1996 for a moment, when I was 28 years old. I lived in a large town in NW Missouri and was doing fairly well as an Asst. Divisional Manager of a National Furniture Retail Company. I was married with no children and had fallen away from the Church. Focused so much on climbing the Company ladder and living the life of a well paid Leader, I didn't have much time for God; at least that is what I told myself and others. The truth was, I felt I had fallen so far away from God that He had no use for me and furthermore, would not forgive me for my deeply disappointing Him. MANY things happened to show the hand of God drawing me back to him that would amaze you, but I can't share them here due to the length of the story; but I came back to the Church and was re-baptized that year. Let's go to that day.....

On that day I was one of many being baptized. We were all gathered downstairs waiting for that moment when we would go up and be symbolically washed of our sins. While everyone else was happy and joyful awaiting their big moment, I was staring out a window, crying and praying. Knowing how I had let God down previously after my first baptism and I didn't want to go that route again; this time it had to be forever. 

They began to line us up and I was still crying, feeling so unworthy and like I was such a disappointment to God; but I was still praying. I told God in my final prayer that I wanted a new life, a deeper relationship and to know that my past would be like a whiteboard that had been erased; my sins would be no more. It was so important for me to feel that acceptance and know that God wanted me back, I just kept saying, "like a whiteboard God, like a whiteboard".

So, there I was getting baptized and I came out of it both happy and scared and very wet! I had to wonder how much of the wetness came from my tears and how much was from the baptismal?! Little did I know that walking down the stairs to get changed something would happen that would forever change my life. 

It was a sunny but cold November day, no precipitation called for at all. However, as I went down the stairs something caused me to pause and look out the slender stairway window; and there it was. Just as I looked out, on a sunny, blue-sky day, a single, large snowflake fell to the ground right by the window. I found peace, suddenly acceptance flowed from the Heavens to my soul and I was at peace. Turning to look away and continue my journey down the stairs, the song "Whiter the Snow" came flooding into my mind. 

God accepted me!! My life was going to be like the whiteboard! I'm going to be okay and God loves me!!!! Now to this very day I have a real anticipation of the first snowfall each year. As a matter of fact, while everyone else is dreading the snow; I see it a bit differently. Unlike others when I see snow, I see Jesus. 

No matter how you may feel today, reach out to Jesus and He will show you His mighty love and acceptance in real and tangible ways in your life. Trust me, you are never to far gone for Jesus and yes, He does want you!

Remember: God's Got This!!