Hebrews 8:12 (ESV)

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

We have just entered into a new year. With the start of a new season of life, there is always the resolve for a change, a fresh start, a reboot. Most of us desire to put last year’s failures, disgraces and heartaches behind us. We want to begin this year with a fresh perspective, determined for things to be different, to be better. This, however is not so easy. Past failures keep getting in the way of future successes. Often we find ourselves repeating the same mistakes, falling into the same ruts. We want to forget our past, but are unable to do so.

Not so with God. God is always able to accomplish what He desires. God has given His word that we who have accepted His gift of eternal life through faith in His Son Jesus will have our sins be forgotten. All sin, past, present, and future, God chooses to forget them. No matter how terrible the sin, no matter how often the sin is repeated, God will not hold that against His child. Psalm 103:12 says “as far as the east is from the west, so far does He (God) remove our transgressions from us.”

Because Jesus paid the penalty for sin, we who believe are no longer under condemnation. Romans 8:1 says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God has also removed our guilt. But our adversary the devil wants us to continue to feel guilty. Guilt causes us to stop desiring fellowship with our Heavenly Father. God always desires to fellowship with us in spite of our continuing to sin. Guilt also causes us to give up on trying to change. But if we stay in fellowship with God, He will produce the change.

This week as we strive to make changes from last year, let us remember and rejoice that if we are a believer, God has not only forgiven our sins but has also forgotten them. To God, our past stays in the past. Hold on to this truth, let it encourage and strengthen your resolutions, and with God’s help, this year will be a better year.