This was what we heard over the airport P.A. system as we sat there in the waiting room. Our flight home was cancelled due to zero visibility here in Dumaguete last Thursday afternoon. Excited to get home but God had another plan – an extended time with my family in Manila. We were able to spend the new year with them and it was indeed a blessing in disguise. This reminds me of another kind of cancellation that I always rejoice in - “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Col.2:13b-14)

Jesus paid in full what you and I cannot pay…

We were completely forgiven! What wonderful words these are. Look at the scope of forgiveness: “He forgave us all our sins.” How many of our sins? ALL. Not just the past sins, not just the present sins, not just the big sins, not just the little sins but ALL of them. Do you get it? It means those times in your past that plague you with guilt … He forgave those sins. That means every single one, even those that you have a hard time forgiving yourself of. And those times when you let others down and hurt them, He forgave those sins too. And all those times you promised you did something for the last time … and then you fell again … God forgave those in Christ too. He forgives the hidden sins and the public sins.

How is this possible? Paul tells us that God canceled the written code that was against us. This is the Law. The Law is holy and good but we are not, so we are condemned because we cannot fulfill the Law. The Law was against us and stood opposed to us because all it could ever do was point out our sinfulness. But the condemnation this Law brings Jesus has removed from us. It’s not that the Law He removed but the condemnation it brings to us due to our sins. He died in your place. His goodness was applied to your account. Your debt was canceled. That’s what it means when He shouted, “IT IS FINISHED!” The debt is paid. Jesus paid in full what you and I cannot pay. The debt of our sins is gone forever because of His blood shed once and for all!

We stand on the verge of a new spiritual venture… a new calling to serve the Lord in the new year.

So, beloved, you who believe in Jesus, as we are now into the New Year receive afresh His forgiveness and acceptance. If you’ve been holding on to the past, it’s time to accept the hurts and losses of our pasts in such a way as they no longer influence or control us, where they no longer have power in our lives. Don’t be a prisoner of your past. Past blunders, mistakes, failures and hurts need not have a stranglehold on your life.

We stand on the verge of a new spiritual venture; a new calling to serve the Lord in the new year. In a sense, the challenge of a new year is like standing on the edge of the fresh sand of a wave swept beach. Or, holding a clean sheet of paper or a clean slate. And that once again, we are given an opportunity to trust God, to walk with Him and show us great and mighty things He wants to and will do in and through us for His greater glory. HOPE IN HIM, FOR ONLY IN HIM IS HOPE!