The Chasm | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Chasm | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joyce Sykes
01/26/06
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The distance between the Lord and my heart is like an ever-growing chasm. I know I have disappointed Him. Decisions I recently made seemed to be the right thing at the time. But looking back now I realize I was only fooling myself. I was simply trying to do my own thing, get my own way. Now the space seems wider than the expanse of the universe between my Savior and me. I have missed the mark.

The memory of the sermon I listened to just a few months ago on the word sin and its meaning pops into my thoughts. The pastor defined the word as any act we do whether in word, thought, deed, or even attitude, that comes short of the Lord’s desire for our life. He stated that as a child of God we would have an inner sense that something was not quite right. There would be uneasiness in the direction we were heading. It would feel like traveling on a one way street, the wrong way.

There is no question that this is the pathway I am now traveling. I was so certain the Lord would bless my mess. Yet the despair I feel is growing as rapidly as the empty space of this rift. Suddenly, I begin thinking back to the feeling I had just before accepting Jesus as my personal Savior. The loneliness and separation at that time was unbearable. Now the feeling is the same as in that timeframe. Finally, I am willing to admit my need, weary of fighting my pride. Repentance is my only answer. My sin and my willfulness must be acknowledged before the Lord. His blood is my only avenue back to my heavenly Father.

I meditate about other times I have tried my own methods of obtaining righteousness. In the long run, I had finally learned that all my virtuous acts were like filthy rags in comparison to what the Lord accomplished on the cross for my salvation. No works of mercy, goodness, or self-righteousness could ever bridge the gulf between mankind and heaven. Only the power of the cross allows me to cross over. Once again I know it’s the cross that I need.

As I surrender my heart and repent of my rebellion and pride, I can feel the gap between my Lord and my sin-sick heart closing. He’s washing away my sin. Once more I can feel the His Presence. Oh, what a marvelous feeling to know forgiveness and acceptance by my Savior. My heartfelt prayer is one of gratitude and thankfulness of the Lord’s willingness to forgive me.

As I rest in the knowledge of this great gift of forgiveness, a sense of peace and security return to my heart. Suddenly joy springs up in my spirit as I recall His precious word in Psalms promising “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” My sin is gone! The chasm between us has vanished. Now, I also have the assurance that just as surely as my sin separated me from the Lord, I can also rejoice that He has thrown my sin to place that is an even wider chasm than I felt earlier. Freedom, I feel O sweet freedom. I am free to be who the Lord has called me to be. I am His child, chosen from the foundation of the world.

As I raise my voice in song, my heart silently prays, “Lord, please help me to never again allow that empty space to come between You and Me.” I can hear the words of my song echo throughout the room. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound….”

Psalms 103:12 NKJV

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