We can all relate to the struggle to admit we’re wrong and say we’re sorry. Sometimes there is nothing worse than having to explain ourselves or apologize, even if we know we should.
I clearly remember one incident as a child where I did not want to apologize.
Our class from our small primary school— equivalent to elementary and middle schools in the USA—had a swimming lesson at the local high school. The headmaster’s wife was responsible for taking care of the girls before and after the lesson. Following the lesson, we boarded the school bus and waited for the boys and the headmaster to join us. My best friend lingered at the front of the bus near the driver’s seat. The headmaster’s wife told her to sit down. From my position at the back of the bus, I decided this was unfair. I blurted out loudly, “she can do what she wants, her dad drives this bus.”
Gasps of horror came from all the other girls as they turned to stare at me. Realizing I probably shouldn’t have said that, I sat down and hid behind the seat.
“You need to come and apologize to me immediately,” said the headmaster’s wife sternly, “if not I will tell the headmaster when he gets here.”
Every bone in my body did NOT want to say sorry. I sat for a while fighting my inner battle until fear of the repercussions got the better of me. I got up from my hiding place and slunk towards where the headmaster’s wife sat. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
No mention of the incident was made when the headmaster and boys got on the bus. I’m sure she told her husband everything when they got home. No doubt they laughed about it.
Adam and Eve had done wrong. God said:
“Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
And their answers portray the struggle with which we are familiar:
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” (Genesis 3:11-13)
“What is this you have done?”
Perhaps the woman experienced the same inner struggle that I had on the bus. She blamed the serpent but she also told the truth. (Genesis 3:13).
Whereas my owning up meant that my insubordinate attitude was mentioned no more, forgiven and forgotten, the couple’s defiance led to consequences.
God outlined what would happen (Genesis 3:14-19), but he didn’t stop there.
We get a picture of God’s kindness and a foretaste of his grace. He clothed the couple to hide their shame. (Genesis 3:21) He also told them about “One” who would overcome the serpent—”will crush your head.” (Genesis 3:15).
And so we read in Romans 16:20: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
From Adam, came a second Adam, God in the flesh.
The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45 NLT).
Jesus Christ took on himself the world’s sins so that you and I might be forgiven.
Like the Psalmist we should show our gratitude to God:
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103: 2-4, 11-12 NLT).
When you sense God asking you the question: “What is this you have done?” Remember that you do not have to hide, you can come clean because your heavenly Father forgives.one?” Remember that you do not have to hide, you can come clean because your heavenly Father will forgive and forget.
Pray
