by Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

This past weekend we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) and through reflecting on this event and my quiet time in Exodus this past week I was reminded that no matter what sin or wrongs we do in life God will forgive us if we come humbly and repentant before the Lord and ask forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ (1John 1:9).

This forgiveness can best be seen through the resurrection, but God’s mercy and grace can be seen wholeheartedly in Exodus too. For example, God protected His people when he sent the 10 plagues on Egypt (Ex 9:26), but when the people got to the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming up their back they complained and griped even though God had just delivered them from the plagues. God then split the Red Sea (Ex. 14) showing His faithfulness and the people sang songs of praise to Him (Ex. 15). Then His people complained again just after God split the ocean for them because they had no food, but once again God was faithful and merciful and provided them manna and quail (Ex. 16).

My point is we, us, human beings are a stiff-necked people (Ex. 32:9; 33:3,5; 34:9) and are sinners (Rom 3:23) who seem to quickly forget that God’s grace is overflowing. No matter what wrong or sin we have done, are doing or will do it is never too late to seek God’s forgiveness. We need to learn from the Israelites in Exodus not to forget God’s mercy and faithfulness. Like the Israelites we will falter, but when we do we need to pick ourselves back up. I believe the words in the song by Tobymac called “Get Back Up” sum this up best when we are down or make mistakes to remind us of God’s grace, forgiveness, faithfulness and mercy.

“We lose our way,
We get back up again
It’s never too late to get back up again,
One day you gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
We get back up again,
So get up, get up,
You gonna shine again,
Never to late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever”

Friends, it is never to late to seek God’s forgiveness when we fall short of His expectations. So the next time you fall short or do something wrong, get up, seek His forgiveness and let Him continue to shine through you.