Mistakes

Life seems to be made up of mistakes. We attempt certain goals or activities only to find that the result is not what we anticipated. We made a mistake in judgement and decision. In some countries, any purchase is final with no possibility of correcting a hasty or incorrect decision. In the USA, there is generally a stated period of time in which we can return the purchased merchandise and receive a full refund or fully functional product. Beyond financial decisions, there are other decisions that cannot be reversed. When we observe or are a part of some heinous act, this cannot be removed from our minds. The trust gained within a relationship can be easily fractured by unforeseen interpretations of words or events. The statement, “Forgive and Forget,” becomes “Forgive and push the memories as far back in one’s memory as possible.” When we decide to accept Jesus’ offer for salvation, this is a decision all of the Trinity honors with full acceptance of our complete background and status. Accepting us is not a mistake. They will not push us away, ever! While they will not abandon us, we have the opportunity to later reject them. Such a decision would be very tragic. The writer of Hebrews warns, “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” – Heb. 6:4-6 (ESV). This is a sobering statement. This is not a picture of a person who has become troubled, indecisive, and dithering for a time. It is a picture of a person who has become fully convinced that they do not want God in their lives. Perhaps they have come to believe whole heartedly that God does not exist, Jesus’ efforts was not effective, the indwelling Holy Spirit has nothing to offer them. It is a complete rejection of the only pathway to please God. If a person rejects this only pathway to God, there is no other way to come close to God. It is a rejection of God.