Youth Magazine 1986 September Issue
Many of you readers have responded to my article, “Are You Sure Every- body’s Doing It?” (December Youth 85 and April 1986, Plain Truth). We’ve heard from those who felt they too were on the brink of making a wrong decision in their lives, from adults who wished they’d had that kind of some, unlike this contrite young woman, have re- peated the same sins over and over. Can God forgive us, or has He turned His face away in disgust, leaving us to writhe in self-inflicted torturous doubts? the Listen to what ancient King David of Israel had to say about his sins. He under- stood feeling. “Mine iniquities [sins] have taken hold upon me, encouragement when they were teen- agers and from others who have already made some mistakes and re- so that look than up; I the am they not hairs able to are of more mine head: therefore, my heart faileth me’’ greet them. (See last 40:12, (Psalm Authorized Ver- month’s ‘‘By the Way...” for example.) One young reader in particular felt it was too late for her. She had made a terrible mistake, immediately regretted it and now for it. She hates feels herself ashamed, dirty, scarred for life. She can’t forgive herself and she’s She’s not too sure God has forgiven her either. ashamed to tell her parents, doesn’t want to hurt them, and she worries about what her future husband will think.
Scared and miserable
She’s scared and miserable and wishes the whole experience were a nightmare that would go away. Every one of us has another amassed a huge debt of sin to Almighty God. And sion throughout). Are there some sins that are even too terrible for God to forgive? No, Jesus Christ’s death freed us from the torment of guilt, from the penalty of our sinful deeds — all of them. He died sins of for all the every human being will who live ever on lived this or earth. The death of God’s only Son paid the enormous price for our breaking of God’s good and righteous commandments.
What we must do
But to receive that forgiveness from God, there is something we must do. First, repent of all of the sins we in one way or have committed and second, have faith in God’s forgiveness (Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19, 8:37). What does it mean to repent? Repentance is a change of mind and attitude. It’s a complete about-face from our sinful actions of the past. It’s not just feeling sorry for what we’ve done because we don’t like to suffer the effects of our actions. Repentance means we’re sick of what we’ve done, so sick of it we’re determined never to repeat it. I believe the young woman who wrote that letter is repentant because she not only sees how wretched her mistake was, she has not repeated her sin. That’s true repentance. Her at- titude and mind toward God is to never again break His command- ment against sex before marriage. Perhaps she sees that she has sinned against her Creator even more than against herself and those closest to her. God stands ready to forgive all the sins of a person in that frame of mind. But the second condition is to believe God, to believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of His very life is altogether sufficient to pay the penalty of your sins.
Complete forgiveness
Someday, when this teenage girl is ready to make a real, last- ing spiritual commitment in her life, she will have to come to complete reliance on the living Jesus Christ as her personal Sav- ior. Every sin that she has ever committed will be completely forgiven by God, and she will be given the power of God’s Holy Spirit to help her keep His righ- teous laws. God doesn’t want us to have to suffer as this young woman has because of sin. That’s why His commandments are there to pro- tect us from hurting ourselves and others. But if we must learn our lessons the hard way — by God recorded this example to help us understand the ex- tent of His forgiveness: One of the most evil kings who ever lived ruled over the ancient kingdom of Judah. His name was Manasseh. This wicked king caused his people to do shameful and ter- rible things. He massacred civilians, filling the land with innocent blood. He even sacri- ficed his own son to a pagan god (II Kings 21:6). Few kings in history have been as bad as Manasseh. Because of all his sins, God caused Manasseh to be taken prisoner by an enemy nation. But do you know what Ma-nasseh did then? He pleaded Meet Mean King Manasseh for God’s favor and “humbled himself greatly.” And “God received his en- treaty and heard his supplica- tion and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom” (I Chronicles 33:12-13, Re- vised Standard Version). Yes, even after all the evil Manasseh had done, God heard his plea for mercy. God gave him a fresh start. If God heard wicked Ma- nasseh, He will certainly hear us and forgive us if we sin- cerely ask Him to. He’s ready whenever we are really ready to ask for that forgiveness and to change and begin trying to live His way. — By Clayton Steep Oa 2 YOUTH 86 experience — then He is most willing to forgive us. Of course, she can’t undo what she has done to herself physically. But, when she is old enough to become married and God has completely forgiven her and made her white as snow spiritu- ally, she must look again to God to provide her with a kind and understanding husband.
No double standard
And, remember, there’s no double standard with God. No young man who has carelessly cast his virginity aside can expect and insist that his wife should not have made a sexual mistake. God doesn’t overlook sexual sins in young men while horribly punishing young women for the same sins. Women have just as much right to expect virginity in their future husbands as men do in their future wives. No sin — no matter how ugly — will ever be held against you if you repent of it toward God. You can count on Him. He will not withhold that forgiveness He has promised. When you really repent — and remember what repentance is — you are at that very moment forgiven. We have a most merciful heav- enly Father, literally filled with the spirit of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins [repent and change], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). So to that young woman who wrote in, and to all who have made similar mistakes: Believe God’s promises and know He wants more than anything to for- give you. He’s our Champion, our De- fender, our Protector. Look to Him. He’s more than willing to help us all straighten out the sor- did messes we human beings bring on ourselves. Don’t allow past mistakes to keep you from pressing ahead to live your life within God’s laws, so that you may live the happy, successful life He wants for you. You'll find it’s definitely worth the effort!
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