Read Psalm 86

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5)

Meditate on those words for just a moment. "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive." Ready to forgive! David brings out something of God's character that is critical for us to understand in our relationship with Him.

I would imagine most Christians understand the doctrine of forgiveness — what it means, why it's essential, and how it sets us free. Everything about the Gospel and our redemption in Christ is intimately connected to being forgiven by God. Even so, it seems to me that the one facet of God's forgiveness we tend to overlook is His readiness to do so. God not only wants to forgive us, but He wants to do it as soon as possible!

““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This readiness of God to pardon our sin in Christ is hard for many to accept. I have witnessed both unbelievers and believers alike struggle with this truth. They believe God can forgive, but they just can't believe God can forgive them yet. The sin is too recent or the failure is too frequent, and thus they conclude that more time is needed or further separation from their sinfulness is required before God is ready to forgive them.

What a lie! Such logic is nothing more than a fiery dart of the wicked one to keep them from returning to Christ in times of weakness and failure. Too many times I’ve witnessed fellow brothers and sisters in Christ drop off the map and disappear because they could not accept the ready forgiveness of God. Too many times I’ve seen an unbeliever come close to entering the Kingdom of God, but refuse to enter in because they could not trust God would forgive them immediately.

Beloved, we must pay special attention to these words of David, lest we too believe the Satanic lie that God's forgiveness has a condition. Do not believe this deception. Believe in God!

When we grieve the Spirit, turn back to Him immediately for He is ready to forgive! When we fall short of His glory, turn back to Him immediately for He is ready to forgive! When we sin shamelessly and selfishly, turn back to Him immediately for He is ready to forgive! Do not sit and fester in it. Delay no more because of feelings or guilt and shame.

Have faith in God’s truth! Trust that our good Lord is ready at all times to pardon, for His Word declares it!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

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