Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
I found a quote several years ago that puts sanctification in a different light. “God forgives the fall so long as you continue the climb.”
Failure is not an option. It never has to be though, just have faith and trust God.
It is so easy to become focused upon our sinfulness, both past sins and those of the present moment. “How can God love me when I do …?” Of course, God hates sin, but, none of our sin is a surprise to God, the Father.
I’ve recently talked to a man who had an issue trusting God because God let Adam and Eve fall. How could He be believed to be so great, if He couldn’t even foresee or stop this first fall?
“everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God foresees every sin, no matter how small or how grave. Nothing that has ever occurred on earth is a surprise or out of God’s hands. He knew of all these sins and failings and from the first, Jesus stepped in and chose to come to earth.
He understands the need for a Savior, crying out from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34.
The choice of the Father to let this sin and any sin come into the world must be a difficult one for Him. Being a father, I know how difficult it is to allow one’s kids to make a mistake. Seeing a child suffer due to their poor choices is heartbreaking. I always step in to protect my kids from harm but, I also know they have to make decisions on their own, even wrong ones. And, in this, they must learn the consequences of those decisions.
Imagine how much more difficult this is for our Heavenly Father. He is perfect love (1 John 4:8).
God hates our sin. But, even our sin is used by the Father to draw us closer to Him. It is through the process of recognizing our sin, Whom we have sinned against, confessing and making reparation and changing the course of future actions that we climb one more rung up the ladder toward sanctity.
IF we get up, brush ourselves off and continue to climb upwards toward God, we will draw closer to the Light and make the free will choice of God over sin.
Our sin proves our need for a Savior. Through your arms up and climb into the embrace of your Savior, be lifted to sanctification and Heaven.