Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross Richard Mansel invites you to come visit his new, "Moving Word" blog. http://richardmansel.com/ COLUMN: LIVING THE FAITH Accident Forgiveness by Richard Mansel, managing editor Josie wishes she could go back to bed. She searched for thirty minutes for her keys, only to find that her five-year-old had hidden them in the cookie jar. Her sister asked her to keep her nieces, when Josie and her husband had their own date planned. Finally, their air conditioner appeared to be acting up. As she hurried to the preschool, she reached for her phone. It was not there. Turning her head to look for it, she felt a huge jolt, bouncing her head back and forward. She screamed at the pain and shock, as she realized she had rear-ended another vehicle. She laid her head on the steering wheel, overwhelmed by frustration. These type accidents can devastate our insurance rating and premiums. However, some insurance companies currently offer, "Accident Forgiveness." In other words, "A program offered by some insurance companies that doesn't raise premiums after an accident, regardless of who is at fault." /1 We may not all have traffic accidents. However, in the spiritual world, we all have accidents. We are told that, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NKJV). Moreover, when we sin, we separate ourselves from God and cannot return, on our own ability (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:10). When we have a traffic accident, we can debate endlessly who was at fault. However, spiritually, we have no one else to blame. We are all responsible for our own sins, whether accidental or intentional (Ezekiel 18:20). When we make a mess of our lives, we find ourselves chained to them. There is nothing we can do, on our own, to remove the chains. We are alone with our sins. Yet, God completely forgets our accidents, and they disappear completely from our record (Jeremiah 31:34). We can come to Jesus and have our sins remitted through immersion, we are born again (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3- 4). Christ died on the cross, so we can receive salvation (Romans 5:8-9). Afterward, we continue to live for Christ, in faith (Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 4:1). "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7). In other words, as long as we live in Christ, God forgives all of our future accidents before they happen! No company can ever match that plan! (2 Corinthians 9:15). _____________ 1/ http://tinyurl.com/266h2of ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/27pq8x4 You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.html