Where Do Sins Go?

Here’s a brainteaser for you. If a traveler on Earth were to travel east, he could do so endlessly without changing directions. The same would be true if he traveled west. But it would not be true if he chose to travel endlessly north or south from any place on Earth. Any northbound traveler would inevitably reach and cross the North Pole, finding himself then headed-south. Likewise a southbound traveler would ultimately cross the South Pole and, continuing, would find himself northbound. Even a northeast-bound traveler would find himself headed southeast eventually, and choosing a northwest trajectory would have him headed southwest. Why?

These anomalies are true because Earth’s axis is a north-south one. If the rotational axis were to become unstable and “horizontalized,” so as to pierce the equator, the eastbound traveler would eventually travel west. We would have an East Pole and a West Pole, and a person could head north or south endlessly.

Earth’s axis is quite stable, but its Creator, “with whom there is no variation” (James 1:17), is even more stable: “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). It is the unchanging word of this unchanging God that purposely uses the west-to-east analogy – not a north-to-south one – in describing his irreversible disposal of sin: “As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

But just how far is the east from the west? As explained above, it must be “infinitely distant.” That is, sins “sent off” in an easterly direction will never be reversed to a westerly direction. So forgiven sins must be gone forever, irretrievably! If you stop and mull over that amazing truth for a moment, you will never suffer from guilt feelings) also known as a “guilt complex”) about any past sins already sincerely confessed!

If you feel that you are on a perpetual “guilt trip,” even after sincerely repenting of past sins, you need to know that the merciful Lord didn’t send you down that road. You probably set up your own miserable itinerary (a north-south journey, perhaps?). The devil planned your send-off with a farewell jeer: Mal Voyage!

This excerpt is from the book The Awesome Mercy of God, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Books. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.