Confession & Declaration 31

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

What does this mean, as far as the east is from the west?

Got Questions answers the question by stating: The phrase as far as the east is from the west is meant to communicate in infinite space. East is in one direction, and west is in the other. This is different from north and south—you can travel north only so far (to the geographic north pole) before being forced to travel south; thus, north and south meet at the poles. But east and west never meet; no matter how far you travel east, you will never reach a point at which your next step must be westward. Therefore, God in His wisdom did not say, “As far as north from south”; rather, He said, “As far as east from west.”

In Psalm 103:11 the Psalmist provides us with another illustration regarding the infinite mercies, and love of our God and Father. It states: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him. Again the Psalmist is pointing us up and down, to the Heavens, which science has revealed are spreading infinitely on into more space. In other words there is no end to God’s mercies and love. This is why Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

What does this have to do with overcoming the accuser of the brothers? The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that quite honestly it never becomes old news because you constantly have opportunities to practice reciting it. For example when the enemy comes to remind you of your past. You can agree with your enemy quickly, saying, Yes you are right. I was quite an awful sinner and I did horrible things. But thank you for reminding me that the Blood of Jesus has separated those sins of my past from me as fast as the east is from the west. When he comes and reminds you of what a sorry person you have been recently; what a failure; what a miserable representation of Christ you have been. You can agree with your enemy quickly and say, Yes, satan you are correct. I have been a sorry person lately. I have failed my Jesus miserably. I have been an awful failure, and a horrible representation of Christ lately. But thank you. Thank you for reminding me – the Blood of Jesus, has taken my failures, my sins, sorry-ness, and horrible representation of Jesus – and separated them from me as high and deep as the heavens. Jesus has taken them from me. Jesus is taking them from me.

Declaration 31: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all my iniquities, Who heals all my diseases, Who redeems my life from destruction, Who crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies my mouth with good things, So that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with me, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with me according to my sins, nor punished me according to my iniquities. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows my frame;
He remembers that I am dust. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. ²⁰ Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the Voice of His word. ²¹ Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. ²² Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103 Personalized)

Thank You Jesus! Praise the Lord!

Who’s Your One? Day 29 – Monday, February 10