A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

Romans 3:24-26: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Venice is a city of waterways. Over one canal there is a bridge called “The Bridge of Sighs.” Constructed in 1600, this bridge leads from a courtroom to a dismal prison where guilty criminals were left to rot and die. Written over the door of the prison are these words taken from Dante’s 14th century literary work, Inferno: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” I can imagine a man being led across this bridge. He has kissed his loved ones good-bye and is looking into the sunlight for the last time. His heart is filled with grief and despair. But when he is halfway across the bridge, suddenly a court attendant rushes up to him and declares, “Stop! I have here an acquittal for you! You are free!” I can also imagine the elation experienced by the once condemned man, now knowing he is free. The word “justification” can better be associated with our word “acquittal.” It is the sovereign act whereby God declares sinners “just” or “innocent,” as though they have never sinned. Justification goes beyond a pardon. It is possible for one to be guilty but then receive a pardon. But the act of justification declares a person to have right standing with God, and their record so expunged by God’s grace, it is as if the stain of sin never existed in that person’s life. This is the acquittal God offers to all of us. Perhaps your life is riddled with guilt over past mistakes you have made. As you make your way across the bridge to what seems to be consignment to a prison of darkness, I offer these words: “Stop! I have here an acquittal for you! You are free!” Forever free to live in the light of His sovereign grace, for this and each new day.