When one of our dogs was just a puppy, he would sometimes do things that he wasn’t supposed to. He may have gotten into the garbage, or chewed on something such as a child’s toy or shoe. He would also, as many puppies tend to do, like to bite or nip at your hands in a playful manner, but we didn’t want him to think that this was something the he could do, so whenever he did it we would give him a sharp rebuke and a slight tap on his nose. It did take a while, but he eventually learned what we were trying to teach him. He grew older, wiser, and calmer, and these types of things he eventually learned not to do anymore. But there were occasions when he would become excited and he would act like a puppy again, and he would seem to forget some of the things which we had taught him. He may have given a slight nip at our hands, not in an angry way of course, but he was just trying to play. This was still something that he shouldn’t have done, but this time right after he had done it you could see that he immediately recognized his error, and began to cower down in shame. He was truly sad because he had done something wrong, but if this ever happened we always gave him a big hug and he would give us a big lick and become happy once again.
We were, in a way, taking the burden of guilt off of our dog because we had already forgiven him for his mistake, and there was no reason for him to remain sad anymore. It had happened, but we were no longer upset with him and we comforted him, which is also what should be done in the Christian church if someone is burdened by the weight of their sins.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Jesus takes the burdens of our sins away from us and places them upon Himself. Through His love, Jesus gives us the peace in our minds that we have been forgiven, and that we have been made right before God.
The truth is that, because all have sinned, we all need forgiveness if we want to go to Heaven. It is those sins that are the hindrance to salvation, if they are remained unrepented of, and this is why our consciences are so important because they help us to discern good from evil, and right from wrong.
When someone sins, hopefully they feel a sense of sorrow and remorse towards God, because this means that they have recognized their errors. It was Paul’s wish that the church help and comfort those who are filled with this type of sorrow because of their mistakes, and relieve them of their heavy conscience by helping and comforting them through their time of difficulty.
We all need as much help as we can get in our faith because we truly are imperfect creatures. We may sometimes fail, we may sometimes fall in sin, but we need to always remember that it is because of the love of Christ that we have this opportunity to make the changes in our lives to become better and more pleasing to the Father. It is this type of love that Jesus shows us that we need to be able to show to others.
So remember, if you see someone in the church who is buried in the sadness of their sins, comfort them just as Christ would. Bear each other’s burdens. Their sins have been taken away, and they need to be filled with the peace that comes from the Lord, because He is our peace. His love has covered their sins, and He will remember them no more.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 