God forgave me long before I forgave myself. 

As a kid, I tried my best to follow both the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. As a rule-follower, I did what my parents, teachers, and church taught. Until I didn’t.

Unintended violations turned into full-fledged rebellion.

It seemed fun but led to misery. Because I knew better, I condemned myself and amassed shame. Scripture echoed in my head: “I never knew you” and “thrown into the fire.”

Also, “The truth will set you free.”

That made no sense. Freedom? I felt the weight of judgment.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-36

The truth seemed to point out my every fault and doom me to an eternity of damnation. I can still visualize my black robed preacher’s ominous finger pointing as he bellowed “obey or face the fires of hell!” That finger pointed at me throughout my rebellion, heaping on the guilt.

Years later I learned the Truth. An epiphany! That’s a sudden insight into reality, sometimes called an ah-ha moment. Mine wasn’t sudden but came after a year of intense Bible study and prayer.

Yes, God issues rules and regulations, but they’re actually for our own good. They guide us to the life God intends for us.

More than rules, God promises love, patience, forgiveness, presence, faithfulness, comfort, strength, and guidance.

This Truth will set you free.

Perhaps like me, you drag around guilt and shame. Afraid to face unpleasant memories? Acknowledging them helps us release the burden.

The Truth is that God forgave our sin when Jesus breathed His final breath. He wiped away every nasty thought, every willful misstep as far as the east is from the west.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him
Psalm 103:11-13

The barrier that separated God from the people ripped apart when Jesus died (Matthew 27:50-51), opening access to God for every person. You and I are invited to approach God with confidence that it’s True. No hesitation. No fear.

The first epiphany recognizes Truth with a capital ‘T’: God forgave us long ago. Condemnation is self-inflicted.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

Building on this Truth, the second epiphany recognizes that God means what He says.

If it’s True and God means it, then what?

• Accept the Truth; God calls us beloved, cherished, forgiven. Let that settle into your soul.
  
• Receive God’s forgiveness and release all shame and guilt.
  
• Allow the truth to set us free. Freedom

When we believe Jesus carried our sin on the cross, God looks at us and sees Christ’s perfection. We’re dressed in Jesus’ pure white robe rather than our sin-stained clothes. We look like Jesus. There is no condemnation.

Believe it:

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 
John 8:36

REFLECT: If you haven’t already, acknowledge your feelings of shame and guilt. Be honest with yourself and with God.

PRAY: Ask God’s forgiveness. His answer is always ‘yes’, but He wants us to recognize where we’ve strayed. Replace your guilt with His love.

REPLACE: My epiphanies occurred through Bible study. Focus on verses about God’s forgiveness and love, such as Romans 8:1, Psalm 103:11-13, and John 8:36. Replace feelings of condemnation with God’s truth.

I’ve had a journey of seeking truth. The thousands of hyperlinks in scripture (images, themes, quotes, and prophesies) convince me of it’s truth.

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