Oh happy day!

This morning I woke up singing a song:  "Oh Happy Day" by Kim Walker.  The chorus goes, "Oh happy day, happy day!  You wash my sin away!  Oh happy day, happy day!  I'll never be the same, forever I am changed!  There is no truth more reassuring the fact that Jesus Christ is alive.  He is not the God of the dead but of the living, and we find our life in Him.  When we are stuck in our sins, it is like rottenness in our bones.  Guilt, despair, and shame poison our thoughts, and we are at the mercy of Satan.  The mercies of the wicked are cruel, and we lie helpless under the torture of condemnation and oppression.

How our future changed when Jesus took away our sins!  We need not lie powerless under the bondage of sin, and our history need not dictate our future.  We may have fallen 100 times to a single temptation, but God enables us to overcome through the victory of Christ over the tomb and sin.  If Jesus can destroy the power of the tomb, then Christ can also overcome all sins that lead us to death.  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I was reading last night concerning the mercy of God.  Thomas Watson made some terrific points concerning God's mercy:  "The mercy of the Lord is upon them that fear Him" (Ps. 103:17).  Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not.  God's mercy is a holy mercy; where it pardons it heals." (A Body of Divinity, pg. 97)  Consider also this passage in Psalm 103:8-12:  "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. [9] He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. [10] He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. [11] For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; [12] As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  Oh happy day, when my sins were washed away!

Isn't it true that God has not dealt with us according to our sin?  Let us say that there were two men convicted of a serious crime against a king.  The king saw fit to deliver one from the torturers and prison, which the other was required to endure.  Does this make the king wicked?  No, he is only punishing the offense according the law, and showing mercy to one as seemed good to Him.  God is merciful to all men, offering them all a pardon through the suffering of His own Son, Jesus.  But He will not force His mercy upon any man.  If a man desires to pierce himself through with the sorrow of the love of riches (1 Tim. 6:10) God will not force him under the precious blood flow of Christ who was pierced for our iniquities.  Psalm 32:10 teaches us, "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him."

Father, I receive of your tender mercies and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  I praise the name of my Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer from the power of sin and death.  Thank you for not dealing with me according to my sins, but according to your love, grace, and mercy.  I am deserving of death, and you have given me eternal life.  May you empower me LORD to fear and sin not that I may walk in your mercy.  Oh happy day!  My sins are washed away and forever I am changed!