So yesterday I contemplated sin as a life out of balance. Then I went out for my morning run. I listen to “podcasts” when I work out (audio talks and programs downloaded to my iPod). As things often work, I listened to Willow Creek Community Church senior pastor Bill Hybels who was talking on sin.
It seems there was a king who decided not to lead his troops into battle but stayed home. While looking out over the city from his palace in his idleness, he saw a beautiful woman on a nearby rooftop. He desired her, sent a servant to bring her to him, had sex with her that led to pregnancy, had her husband killed so that he could marry her to cover up the act. Whew. What a list of sins.
This king’s name was David. His friend Nathan came to him one day and told him a story. The story indicted David and pierced David’s soul as if like an arrow. You can read about David’s repentance in Psalm 51.
Two verses stand out to me. In one, David says (verse 3) “for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” One consequence of sin, that is doing things that you know are wrong and send your life away from God, is that you can’t forget. Like Lady Macbeth, you just can’t wash the blood from your hands. It weighs on your mind.
There are times when I am contemplating and it seems that every sin I’ve ever committed flashes before my eyes. I am reminded constantly.
But David goes on to ask God (verse 10), “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
Jesus came to show us the way to that clean heart. He showed us the way to God. He said I will die and show you the resurrection. I will die and show you that God can create in you a clean heart and you don’t have to listen to the Accuser who tells you that you aren’t good enough, that your sins are too great.
Ask God for that right spirit.
Faith Venture 
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