was tarnished greatly by the disobedience of the first couple that God created, Adam and Eve. It is called the TARNISH OF SIN…or possibly more simply put, “DISOBEYING GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.” You see, that which is created is subject to the one that created it. Since God created man, man then is God’s property. God expects His creation to be obedient to His instructions. These instructions are given to us in written form in what we know as the Bible…the written Word of God.Disobedience to God’s will mean that our life becomes even more tarnished with the commission of every act of disobedience. The Holy Spirit, through any number of ways, brings people to the point of feeling guilty about the sinful things they are doing. Thus, we have the first in my set of three components – GUILT.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden they were smitten with guilt and they covered and hid themselves from God…they thought. God found them. God confronted them. They confessed because they were guilty of disobedience against the stated will of God. You see, they, just as we are, were not “the boss” – GOD WAS! Clearly, Adam and Eve failed. The creature chose to rebel against the Creator – a big mistake.
Guilt for sin is a blessing. Another name is CONVICTION (not my second component, only a synonym for guilt). This must take place before any kind of reconciliation with God is possible.
It is at this point that component number two comes into play. It is called GRACE. Grace is: GOD AT HIS BEST REACHING DOWN TO MAN AT HIS WORST…GOD REACHING DOWN TO BRING US UP TO WHERE HE IS. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. At the point where we recognize our guilt…and acknowledge it to God…His amazing, saving, grace becomes the miracle working power that restores a person to fellowship with the Creator. The atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Christ…the shedding of His blood as God’s Sacrificial Lamb…became the tarnish remover. When grace does its work, the tarnished vessel is polished and shines like one’s face in the mirror. Now, the reflection of Jesus Christ is seen in that person. They have been changed because of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the cleansing work of grace.
Finally, the third component is GRATITUDE. A forgiven person cannot help but be grateful, thankful and happy. A forgiven person realizes that something wonderful has happened. An unbelievable gift has been given to them…ETERNAL LIFE. This can only come as a result of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the work of saving grace. To be polished and made clean and beautiful should be the desire of every sinful, fallen, person. There is only one way to remove the tarnish. The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). We cannot polish ourselves. Forgiving oneself is an important thing in the process of forgiveness, but no person can be spiritually reborn…cleansed from all unrighteousness…except God do it. It is then that OBEDIENCE takes over and DISOBEDIENCE becomes the exception rather than the rule. Jesus said it, “you must be born again” (John 3:3).
Do you feel guilty? Is there an inner voice telling you that you are tarnished, sinful, and need to do something about your life? That is the Holy Spirit drawing you to the point where you will confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and the Lord of your life. It will be at that point that AMAZING GRACE will reconcile you to God, polishing your sinful life until you shine with the glory of God. And, then, you will be able to face life with assurance and with a grateful heart, able to now say, “it is well with my soul…I have been reconciled with my Creator…all my sins are washed away…I’ve been redeemed.”