Finding Mercy

my friend Matt really inspired me to start listening to sermons on podcast instead of listening to music. It's been absolutely sensational. my aversion to it at first was that i wanted to be able to listen to the entire sermon in one sitting and be able to really focus upon what i was hearing. i'm finding out, however, that even the tidbits i've been able to hear in the small fractions of time have been not only helpful but transforming. The more i listen the more i hunger. my faith is growing more and more which coincides with what Paul says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing the Word of God (which in context is actually the Gospel message).
i listened to podcast yesterday from Imago Dei (a church located in Portland, Oregon) and the message was based on Hebrews. The point that the Spirit used to touch my heart was that we can come to God's throne and expect to receive mercy.
Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT)"
i can't tell you how many times i've read that passage, but never have i really understood and personalized what this passage teaches about God. When we go to God's throne we will find MERCY. i've always had this conception of God that, yes He loves me, but He's also upset and disappointed in me when i sin or when my faith is weak. i go to Him expecting judgment or at least some type of displeasure. Then i consider what this passage is teaching.
When i go to my God, because of what Christ has done, i don't have to worry about Him judging me or even being disappointed in what i've done. He knows me. He knows what i've said, thought or done. He understands my weaknesses.
He won't reject me. He won't reprimand me. He won't tell me, "I told you so," or "You should have known better." He has compassion. He gives comfort. He has mercy.
my problem is far too often i don't come to the throne. i'm much like the one we find in Proverbs 28:13: "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy." i conceal rather than confess. i try to cover with fig leaves rather than coming clean.
Are there still consequences for sin? Yes. Will there be judgment? Yes, but only in the sense that we must live with the choices we have made (i.e. consequences). Romans 8:1 tells us, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." 1John 1:9 says, "But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." I believe based on Scripture that the accounting that we will have to do will not necessarily have to do with our sin (i.e. watching a movie of all our sin and having to tell Christ why we did it) but rather the accounting will be about what we did with the gifts and opportunities God gave us. How we managed our earthly responsibilities will determine our level of responsibility in the coming Kingdom. Certainly there will be shame, but not condemnation.
That encourages me to hold on, realizing that if i do let go of the rope, Christ is the anchor at the end picking up the slack and my Father is there to pick me up dust me off and get me back in the fray.
Thanks for reading.