Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…?”
“Easter is my favorite time of the year” echoes through my mind during Passion Week. My dad often spoke those endearing words the last few years of his life. It’s no wonder. After sixty-five years of rebellion and regret, the power of Easter’s claim broke through and Dad’s life changed dramatically. He never tired of telling people about God’s forgiveness for a sinner like him. Dad became Exhibit #1 of a redeemed life. He knew no one could have put the pieces of his life back together like God.
God has always been in the redeeming business…
Israel had sunk to a new low. Years of spurning God’s love and law resulted in complete misery. The prophet Micah lamented not one righteous man could be found in the land. He described those who remained as “skilled in doing evil” (Micah 7:3). They were blue ribbon winners when it came to murder, deceit and corruption. The best of the leaders were “briars” and “thorn bushes” (v.4). Treachery saturated the culture to such an extent that people couldn’t even trust the members of their own family.
If any nation lived beyond the borders of redemption, it would appear to be Israel. Yet into this quagmire of desperation rings the prophet’s confident voice. “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me” (v.7). Micah had reason to hope. He knew the God of Israel could and would forgive sin. Could and would pardon every iniquity. Could and would move them from defeat back to victory. Micah understood.
God was in the redeeming business.
I don’t know where your hope lies this season. Maybe you’re facing circumstances that seem cast beyond redemption’s reach. You think nothing—no one—can put the pieces back together. You might be right. Right, that is, if you remove God from the redeeming business.
This Easter season God wants to remind you no one does redemption better than he does. As surely as Jesus rose from the grave…that’s how sure you can be of God’s incredible, supernatural, awesome ability to redeem the pieces of your life. Ah, friend, let the message of Easter resurrect your hope in this favorite time of the year.