The long shadow of sin

Frans Bakker in his book 'Praying Always' reflects on David and Bathsheba and states, 'The Lord sometimes causes the consequences of sin to remain, even though forgiveness has been granted. Thus he keeps his people humble. A bitter aftertaste is left so that a sinful past will not be forgotten.'(praying Always, Banner of Truth 1984, p92)

I think pastorally that is so helpful. The gospel is wonderful. There is forgiveness for every known sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Yet in this world the scars of sin remain. God says he has put our sin at the bottom of the sea, as far as the east is from the west. He's trampled it underfoot; he's placed it behind his back and our sins and iniquities he remembers no more. We rejoice in these truths but the finest of God's people have sharp memories and live with the pain of sin in their past which affects their present. It's part and parcel of living in a fallen world.

The wound has been healed but scar tissue remains and it should make us wary of sin but also long for the day when the scar tissue will be removed. I remember a friend of mine saying that sin casts a long shadow and even though we know full and total forgiveness we and the people in our churches live with the consequences of sin. There will gloriously be a day when the shadow and consequences of sin will be no more.