God’s Grace is Greater than all our sins

Let’s imagine we were on a jury for King Manasseh of Israel. He was made king when he was 12 years old. He led his nation away from the true God; he was into mediums, spiritists, witchcraft, starry hosts and more. He worshipped everything but the true God. Besides all of this, he was a two time baby killer who sacrificed his two sons in a fiery furnace. His leadership led into punishment and captivity of not only himself but the nation of Israel. I bet the jury verdict would be “throw away the key.”

Manasseh finds himself in a Babylonian prison humbled when he comes to his senses. In 2 Chronicles 33:10:13 it says: “The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” The Lord forgives him and restores him to a position of leadership. The Lord forgives and restores and we want to throw away the key. We sing “God’s grace is greater than all our sins;” it’s true, just learn from Manasseh’s example.

This week I met people who struggle with past sin. They sit in the pews of our churches and suffer alone. They see more of our “throw away the key” mentality than “God’s Great Grace” which covers more than all our sin.

Manasseh may have sacrificed his two sons to an imaginary god, a meaningless, non-existent god. Another sacrifice of a Son took place about 2000 years ago. It was not an imaginary god asking man to sacrifice His own Son, no, it was the one and only True God who sacrificed His one and only son so we could have all our sins forgiven and reign eternally with His risen Son, Jesus. Do we hear enough about God’s great grace? Women who have had an abortion suffer alone with a guilty conscience. God’s grace is greater than your sin. A man sits alone, sober now but alone; his ex-wife and children are bitter at the suffering incurred at his hand. He feels hopeless yet God’s grace is greater than all his sin.

Alan Fram and Erin Putman wrote an article for Associated Press entitled “Is Everything Spinning out of Control?” Summarized in part it says: “Everything seems out of control, Midwest floods, Polar Bears adrift, gas prices skyrocketing, home values crashing, air fares, college tuition, heath care border on the unaffordable.” Fram and Putman allude “You have very little power to make it change. We look for hope from our politicians but it all seems to be unraveling. Surely we know how to fix these problems, don’t we?” No, we don’t. America staggers looking for an answer. We look to Barrack Obama and John McCain for answers. They won’t come. America needs the Savior, not a politician.

Are you struggling today over sin or past sin? Lift up your eyes to Heaven and ask for forgiveness of the Lord. If you had to go to trial, would the world want to throw away the key? Jesus is willing to forgive and restore. Remember, God’s grace and forgiveness were purchased at a high price—the suffering death of His Son, Jesus. And never forget, Jesus rose from the dead victorious over sin and death. Remember, God’s grace is greater than all our sin!