Guilt Is A Heavy Burden to Carry

"Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles it and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal."   -South

We all carry baggage. It weighs us down and burdens us so that we aren't able to do what we would really like to do. What kind of baggage are you carrying right now? Guilt, broken dreams, broken relationships, hurt, etc. We should examine what the bible has to tell us about guilt; and how we can really be free from the guilt of our past.

Merriam-Webster defines guilt this way: a bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or wrong. I think most of us are all familiar with that feeling, correct? However, the good news is that God doesn't want us to live in guilt, but rather to overcome guilt through the blood of Jesus.

If I may be blunt for a moment, some of you have spent this past week living lives without any regard to God or, the things of God. Some of you have spent years living in such a way; and now the burden of guilt weighs heavy on your soul. You know, the only thing worse is not to feel any guilt about that at all. To be in such a position is to be spiritually dead. A dead conscience and a dead spirit are terrible ailments. God looks at the heart and he knows your guilt.

The guilt of our sin, made us spiritually dead. Humanity naturally sees out our own human desires and our own pleasures.That 's why we live with so much guilt; because we know deep down that what we are doing is not honoring to God. So if everyone is guilty, then doesn't it make sense we should live as though we are guilty? Only if you have never been forgiven. When you seek forgiveness and receive forgiveness, you no longer need to live guilty. Our guilt was dealt with by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Are you going to add to the burden of guilt by coming to his table not knowing his forgiveness? God, because of his love for us, paid the price for our sin with the blood of Jesus. He freely gave us new life. When we accept God’s forgiveness, we are spiritually placed in heaven with Christ. Since we are raised with Christ in heaven we do not need to live in the guilt of our sin. In heaven there is no guilt.

When the bible talks about our living with God in eternity, it tells us that there will be no more weeping or pain or mourning (Revelation 21:4). For those forgiven of their sin through Jesus Christ, this should be the reality in which we live our lives. Of course, this doesn't mean we can simply do whatever we want and not worry about sin. God has called us to live as he does and he wants us to avoid sin at all cost (Romans 6:1).

Sin should be the exception in our lives.We are dead to sin and alive in Jesus (Acts 10:43; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14). The reality is that for those forgiven by Christ, we are free from the bondage of guilt. Why should we not feel guilty about God’s grace? Our forgiveness is a gift from God. Since we didn't earn it, we can’t lose it. God never takes away his forgiveness from us (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Unhealthy guilt burdens us, and keeps us from being who God created us to be. Unhealthy guilt is an attack from our enemy who accuses us. Healthy guilt, or conviction, draws us to Christ (1 John 1:9). How do we overcome guilt?

• Admit your guilt;
• Take responsibility for your guilt;
• Confess your guilt and seek God’s forgiveness;
• Be assured of God’s forgiveness and then move to experience a restored relationship with God.

Guilt is a positive thing when it moves us to confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness. When we have done that, we must believe and live according to what Scripture teaches – that we are forgiven and live in the freedom of that forgiveness. Too many Christians I know live as if forgiveness does not bring freedom.

Scripture: Romans 5:1; Luke 15:7; James 1:14; Psalm 103:11-12; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:4 

Prayer: Dear Father, help me remember that love begins with me. Give me the wisdom to understand that it is not what I do, but the love that I put into what I do that matters. Amen

God bless you!

Gail