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by Rita Louise MacDonald

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As Far As The East Is From The West

by Rita Macdonald

 

Have you ever wondered why the Scriptures say that God will forgive our sins as far as the east is from the west, instead of as far as the north is from the south?  (Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”)

I never have!   Well, I hadn’t until a few weeks ago!  A friend brought this to everyone’s attention in my Bible Fellowship class, and I have thought often about what she shared ever since.  It is truly amazing what little “nuggets” the Lord places in His Word, and how He reveals Himself so personally to each of us (if you’ll let Him).  I’m so glad she shared this with us!

There is an actual “north pole” and a “south pole,” so that as you travel, at some point you are ending in one direction, and beginning in another, only to eventually wind up right where you began.

But there is no such starting and ending point if you are traveling east or west!  You simply continue in that direction, without such a point at which you distinctly are then, traveling in the opposite direction.  There IS no east or west pole!   Maybe THAT is why He uses “as far as the east is from the west” to describe how fogiven we are, and how far removed our sins are from us.   We can’t see the beginning from the end!  It’s simply, never ending – Just like His forgiveness availability!

I’ll bet that you, just like me, often have a difficult time “grasping” just how forgiving our God is when we confess our sins to Him.   That’s likely because we are far, far, far less forgiving than He will ever be.

Isaiah 43:12 says, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

When you forgive people, do you FORGET their transgressions against you?   (I think that if we are all honest, we most often times are NOT quite that forgiving).

I don’t know what it is YOU currently believe about “confession” and about “forgiveness,” and I am not writing this to offer you my OPINION about either.  But here are only a FEW things that God has told us through His Word about confession and forgiveness:

  • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9
  • “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  1 Timothy 2:5
  • “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”  Ephesians 1:7
  • “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Matthew 6:14-15

When Jesus died, the veil inside of the temple was torn top to bottom.  That signified that God was finished with that temple and its religious system.  (See Luke 13:35).   That “veil” was symbolic of Jesus as the ONLY way to the Father.  In the Old Testament, the high priest had to enter the Holy of Holies THROUGH this veil.  But now, Christ is our high priest, and since we believe in the finished work at the Cross, we can now enter the Holy of Holies through JESUS alone!  The things inside of the temple were types and shadows of things to come, and all of those things pointed to Jesus.  He was the veil to the Holy of Holies, and through His shed blood at the cross, believers now have free access to God, without having to go through man (a priest).

Because of the death of Jesus on the Cross, all barriers between God and man have now been removed, and we can boldly approach His throne.  (This is INCREDIBLE news!)

And the next time you do approach His throne, I hope you remember – Your sins are removed as far as the east is from the west!   (And a big THANK YOU, to my friend Sue, for sharing this “nugget!”)

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Comments

  1. Mamie Jones says

    October 2, 2024 at 1:35 pm

    I have been researching Psalm 103:12 for greater understanding. This is how I found your site. It was great to see the reference to Isiah 43:12 and the further message of God’s abundant forgiveness and love.
    I am also an empty nester, after being a single parent, widow, raising two children myself. It is always a comfort when I find a story similar to mine. Thank you for all the time and effort you expend reaching out to others and spreading the Good News.
    May the peace of Christ be with you today and always,
    Mamie Jones

    Reply
  2. Shelly says

    June 27, 2024 at 2:45 pm

    Isaiah 43:25 is the verse I think you MEANT To write down, not verse 12….am I wrong? Thanks for your time 😉

    Reply
    • Rita Macdonald says

      June 28, 2024 at 5:38 am

      Different scripture, but says same thing! There’s no shortage on scriptures that tell us He forgives us and forgets our sins, is there?! Thank you for following my blog, and for sharing this scripture! I really appreciate you, and thanks for YOUR time!! 🙂

      Reply
    • Mamie Jones says

      October 2, 2024 at 1:37 pm

      Yes, of course I guess my mind was still on verse 12 of Psalm 103. Thank you

      Reply
  3. Michael says

    March 11, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    Dear friends
    In brief moments approaching’ sanity ‘ I remember I am but dust! My sins ( I shiver ) removed. SO loved, I’m speechless! And yet somehow I believe ( a gift, not mine )
    That His hand ( I see the scar ) is reaching, always reaching for me to take, to hold. That lovely hand. All love that hand. Can it be mine, even now? Even forever? He says so.
    ( I found these words ) difficult to get my mind around what God has done for us😀🙃♥️
    God bless, love Michael

    Reply
  4. Robert Stewart says

    October 31, 2020 at 5:58 am

    This understanding will debunk flat earth theory

    Reply
    • Mamie Jones says

      October 2, 2024 at 1:39 pm

      Thank you Robert – I had not even thought about that. I must forward this to my daughters boyfriend!

      Reply
  5. Kobi says

    September 29, 2019 at 6:34 pm

    Amen And glory to the Lamb of God for all that he has done. Bless the sister whom brought clarification to this scripture given us more meaning and understanding and insight into the scripture in mind and wheel of Jesus our Lord and Savior Our God Amen! So lovely and I needed this!!

    Reply
  6. Leanne Thompson says

    January 29, 2019 at 9:44 am

    I am grieving my sin and am heavy hearted because of it. In looking up scripture verses on God and His forgiveness I came across your blog. Thank you for sharing. It has been an encouragement.

    Reply
  7. Leanne says

    January 29, 2019 at 9:42 am

    I am grieving my sin and am heavy hearted because of it. In looking up scripture verses on God and His forgiveness I came across your blog. Thank you for sharing. It has been an encouragement.

    Reply

Hello, I’m Rita.

Rita Louise MacDonald

I am a very imperfect follower of Jesus. Much of my journey in learning to follow Christ – as a single mother and now as an empty nester – has taken place at my kitchen table. I invite you to pull up a chair, enjoy the stories, maybe even collect a recipe or two!

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