Did you know you were made in the image of God, even before you gave your heart to Him?
This means that no matter what you’ve done, what regrets you’ve carried, or how late or early you came to Christ, God never said, “Uh-oh.” He’s never been found crying over spilled milk either. Nothing surprises God.
In other words, God knew you in advance. The Bible says, “He fashions their hearts individually. He considers all their works” (Psalm 33:15). The New Living Translation reads this way: “He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do.”
This means long before our heart was transformed by Christ, God understood our transgressions.
The key however, is that there’s a difference between understanding and approving. God hasn’t approved of everything we’ve done, but that doesn’t mean He said, “Uh-oh” when you made a mistake. No, on the contrary, He “sent His word to heal” (Psalm 107:20), meaning He has a remedy for every problem.
“Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]” (2 Corinthians 5:5). And better yet… The Holy Spirit’s help in this process is a guarantee of God’s faithfulness!
One of the prayers I constantly lift up on behalf of others is found in Ephesians, Chapter One. When I see people who are struggling in their faith, yet making strides to change, I pray and ask God to seal their hearts by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
In other words, your “uh-ohs” are not a problem for God.
One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to protect you from future “uh-ohs” once your heart comes to a realization of them. He will show you God’s Word, reveal God’s heart, and seal these truths in your heart to keep and guard you.
God is so good!
So stay on the right course no matter what you’ve recently struggled with. God loves you and will dust you off and put your feet back on the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
