“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” (Psalm 85:8)
The Lord is always interested in where we are now. We may have made a thousand wrong turns in the past; the big issue with God is whether we want to get on the right track today.
God told Ezekiel that if a man who has done wickedly turns and does righteousness, none of his prior wickedness would be brought up to him. On the other hand, if a man who previously did what was right, turns from his righteousness and does wickedly, none of his former good would be remembered. (Ezek. 18:21-28)
The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. There is forgiveness with Him so He might be feared. He wants us to be bowled over by His goodness that leads us to repentance. Again and again, Jesus told sinners they were forgiven, but added, “Go, and sin no more.”
God graciously releases us from our former debts, but not so we can continue to “fall into debt.” The same Savior that forgives us from all our sins is powerful enough to keep us from those sins.
God will speak peace to us. He will tell us that our sins are forgiven and our slate has been wiped clean. But He will also charge us not to turn back to our folly. Today, hear what the Lord your God would say.