Lifting Grace
Scripture Reading — Psalm 32
Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Psalm 32:1
Learning Greek in college was not impossible because many English words come from Greek. Even I can remember that kardia means “heart.” But when I learned Hebrew, I had to use word association, because very few English words are borrowed from Hebrew.
One easy Hebrew word was nasa. It looked like NASA—the initials for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Since nasa means “to lift up, carry or bear,” it wasn’t hard to make the connection between nasa and NASA.
After confessing his sin to God, David writes, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are [nasa-ed] forgiven.” We are indeed blessed, for our sins have been rocketed into oblivion.
Our sins are not stored on the international space station or rocketed to the moon. They do not become space debris. They are as far removed from us as “the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). They have totally and forever vaporized, vanished. They are not lost, so they cannot be found. They are simply gone. We have no idea where they went, so it is futile to search for them.
All we know is that Jesus lifted them on his shoulders and carried them away (Isaiah 53:4). And we have no reason to ask him where he put them! As Thomas Kempis said, “He rides at ease whom the grace of God carries.”
God of abounding grace, we thank you today that by your grace you have lifted our sins and carried them away. Through Jesus Christ, Amen.
About the author — Dale Vander Veen
Dale Vander Veen is a retired Christian Reformed pastor who with his wife, Edith, has ministered in California, Washington, and Michigan. They have three married children and six grandchildren. He currently writes a daily e-mail series of devotions.
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