Satan is a liar. The Bible says in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Someone once said that the Church is the only institution that shoots it’s wounded. There are many who struggle with the issues of forgiveness and mercy and have not been able to find their way to the mercy of God.

The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I have had inner struggles all of my life.

As long as I can remember I’ve had feelings of inadequacy, incompetence and depression.

For years Satan lied to me and told me that no matter what I did that I would never be good enough for anyone or anything. My feelings of inadequacy made me angry and self-destructive which lead to a life of sorrow and failure.

I discovered drugs and alcohol at an early age and bought in to the lie that they made me a better person and that they would ease the pain.

The reality is that I was allowing myself to succumb to my insecurities as I bought into the lies of Satan. The enemy of my soul convinced me that as long as I was high that I had control of my life but when the high wore off I was forced to realize just how out of control that I was. Consequently, I stayed high all of the time so as not to have to face my reality.

I couldn’t deal with my inner struggles of self-loathing and myself destructive behavior and so the drugs and alcohol became my reality. Was there any hope for me? Not in the eyes of some Christians. To some I was a hopeless drunk and drug addict with no hope of redemption.

Years after I became a preacher I was asked to share my testimony with a particular Church. When the service was over I stood at the back door as I usually do and the congregation walked around me because no one was willing to shake my hand in light of who I had been. This Church couldn’t see the man that Jesus died for, they could only see my sin.

In 1 Corinthians chapter five there is an account of a man that is in a sexual relationship with his step mother. Paul reprimands the Church for not putting that man out of the Church.

He tells the Church that man is in the worst of sin and that they are to cease any kind of fellowship with him as a Christian brother. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Church he tells them to forgive the man and restore him so that he doesn’t despair in the sorrow he hasover his sin.

It is implied that this man repented and so Paul calls for his restoration and he says in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” The devices that Paul is talking about here are the same devices that Jesus referred to when He said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” Satan works in the Church to create a spirit of unforgiveness and condemnation but praise be to God that He is the God of the second chance.

Satan desires to convince people that God could never forgive them and that they are unworthy of His mercy and grace. Legalistic, condescending and heartless people force those for whom Christ died into a state of suppression, oppression and depression without any hope of forgiveness or mercy.

Fortunately for you and I Jesus also said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” I have inner struggles and sometimes I find it very hard to see myself as God does and that can be amplified immensely by outward circumstances.

Sometimes I just want to give up and run away but then God reminds me of what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” the word of God reminds me that it was for me that Jesus died and not for some abstract concept of man. He died for you as well and He stands with His arms open wide saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus has mercy, grace and rest for your soul.