"Where East Meets West"

Columbus. It’s the name of a famed explorer and the name of the small farming community in Wisconsin where I was born and raised. It’s one of many communities throughout the United States named in honor of the intrepid sailor.

You remember him from your history classes, don’t you? An Italian who, backed by the royal family of Spain, was determined to reach and India and return its treasures to Europe. It was his proposed route to India that raised eyebrows. Columbus intended to reach the east by sailing west.

And to paraphrase a line from Paul Harvey, of course you know the rest of the story.

Columbus’ intentions remind me of my favorite Psalm—a Psalm of grace—Psalm 103.

Notice a few selected passages written by David about grace in Psalm 103.

“Praise the Lord…who forgives all your sins…He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”

Majestic words. Now think about what David writes in verse 12.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Catch David’s point—just as there is no point where east meets west, so you cannot find the place where your sins can be found once God has forgiven you. That place simply doesn’t exist!

God’s forgiveness for your sins is so complete, so perfect, so gracious, that you need never worry about them ever again. Your past is past and you are left to live in the joy of forgiveness.

So the next time you’re tempted to go exploring for your past sins, remember Columbus and remember the gracious God who says the place where your past sins are cannot be found.

Where east meets west.