Guilt is powerful, and most people carry, at least a little bit with them. But guilt can also be overwhelming. Feelings of remorse, wanting to, “fix it”, the uncertainty of what to do next…. Guilt can be all consuming.
When the jury said, “guilty”, Steven became a convicted felon. He would lose his driver’s license, pay all court costs and would fulfill a long list of obligations. Then the judge asked him a question: “Do you understand what it means to be found guilty?” Steven said that he did, but the judge asked, “Do you know what you lost by crashing your car into that house?” Steven hung his head and quietly said that he did.
Then the judge’s voice softened and he said, “Then if you do what is required of you, I will erase this conviction on your 18th birthday. It will be as if it never happened.” For the first time in weeks, Steven felt hope and began to believe that the weight of his guilt wouldn’t follow him the rest of his life.
On his 18th birthday, Steven’s record was swept clean just like the judge promised. It was as if he had never broken the law. He was free!
While your story is probably different, you may be feeling the same kind of guilt Steven felt that day so long ago. You know you did wrong. You may have stolen from someone. Perhaps you broke a promise to “love, cherish and obey.” You may even have taken someone’s life. The weight of your guilt is heavy and it stops you from living!
There is good news for you. There is a way that you can have your record swept clean. There is a way that your guilt can be erased! God knows that everyone has done wrong and He understands that the wrong things we do create guilt. He also knows that the penalty of sin (the wrong things we do) is death! BUT, God made a way for us to find forgiveness and hope. It comes through the gift of his Son, Jesus.
Jesus never sinned, but He was willing to take our sins on Himself. He paid for our sin on a deadly cross. He was innocent but paid our sin debt! Three days later, He rose from the dead with the power to give us new life and hope now and forever!
It begins with a simple prayer like this:
“Dear Jesus, I ask You to forgive me! I’m tired of the guilt I feel and I’m sorry for the wrong things I have done. I need to feel hope again. Please clear my record and give me a new start in life as I begin to follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
If you prayed that prayer, you have made one of the most important decisions of your life! We would like to know about your decision and want to help you learn more about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Please complete the information below to continue your journey. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about your decision.