We didn’t live in Chick-fil-A country, so when the news broke that one was coming to our town, it was almost too good to be true. Even better, the restaurant would be only a short drive from our house.
Soon after it opened, our daughter and son-in-law came to visit. We were excited to share our good fortune with them, so we went there for dinner the day after they arrived. We had just sat down to enjoy our meal when my son-in-law said, “Hey, why don’t you put some Chick-fil-A sauce on your sandwich?”
“I’m not much of a sauce guy, so I’ll pass.”
But he wasn’t satisfied with my answer. “Dad, you’ve got to put the sauce on your sandwich.”
“No, thanks. It can’t be that big of a deal.”
He would not be denied. “I’m telling you, Dad, it’s a game changer. Do it! Put some on.”
I relented. I opened a pack of the sauce, squeezed some onto my sandwich, and took a bite.
My son-in-law was right. Game. Changer.
As awesome as discovering a Chick-fil-A game changer is, you know what is an eternally greater game changer?
Forgiveness.
Not just initial saving forgiveness of our sins, but life-long forgiveness from our faithful intercessor, Jesus. Christ wanted His disciples to know this truth: “If the Son sets you free, you will be indeed” (John 8:36 ESV). And it is His forgiveness that sets us free.
Free from condemnation and from living as if we were condemned.
Free from bitterness, which finds its soil to grow in unforgiveness.
Free from performance, because everything was finished on the cross.
Free from constant anger, because God is our righteous judge.
Free from bondage to crippling sins, because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
And much more.
We all must understand this: We can’t make ourselves into new men, but we can be made into new men. The transformation that takes place in us will come from outside us, by way of God’s forgiveness through Christ. There is no other way.
Do you know what I think our biggest challenge is? What keeps us from making progress forward? We don’t really grasp what it means to be forgiven. It’s as if we’re still trying to pay off a debt that’s been canceled, still trying to balance the books with good behavior to overwrite the wrongs of our past. Even though we know better, we still feel we must contribute something to our freedom.
It can’t be done, brother, and it doesn’t need to be done. You’ve been forgiven.
Be encouraged in the forgiveness of Christ today!