If True Remorse is gone what Recourse is left?
Never too late to seek the Lord Jesus
Jesus always told his listeners that his Father was ready to hear our plea for help. In the Our Father the words “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses.” Of course there are requirements that go along with these words, “As we forgive those who trespass against us.” However, God the Father waits for each of us to reach out when we are in trouble. The Prodigal Son is one classic story where his father waited for a long time until the son had no more money or future and needed help.
Read the poem “The Hound of Heaven” and how the Lord chased after this lost child until he could find and embrace his offspring. Jesus emphasized the generous empathy that our Father has to ensure each child who falls has a comfort cushion to fall into. That cushion is his loving embrace.
Too often when any of us slips and commits sin the first thought is a constant array of guilt which may prevent our asking for forgiveness. This is one way that Satan uses to steer us away from God’s mercy and the darkness of fear becomes the most certain direction for us to not hold onto. How easy it can become to believe that God neither will forgive us nor can he forgive. That is the sin against the Holy Spirit. God cannot not forgive us.
“But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I send them into the world. And I consecrate myself to them, so they may also be consecrated in truth.” (Jn. 17: 13 - 19). From the priestly prayer indicating Jesus asking his Father to keep watch over us. It becomes the essence of his love for us.
The most severe option we can try is to ignore the blessings that God has for us and lose the greatest gift of receiving his loving mercy on each of us. Never give up on this gift that Jesus came to bring into our lives and welcome God’s concern for any of us regardless of our weaknesses and falling away. Seek Him who is always there for us.
Ralph B. Hathaway