Shame and guilt are two of Satan’s most effective weapons against us. While often we feel little remorse for our sins, shame and guilt have the potential to become anchors that tie us to our pasts. Frequently, we enter a “cycle of shame and guilt”. Just when we emerge from that binds of sin, we begin to feel too unworthy of God or out of place amongst the church. It reminds me of a couple trips that I have taken to Cedar Point. At Cedar Point, there are many amazing thrill rides. However, you often have to wait in a line for several hours to experience a couple minutes of excitement. When this waiting gets to be too excruciating, I typically find a less thrilling ride like the Gemini. The wait for the Gemini is often non-existent. You get on the ride, get off, and then you get back on again. This is how it works with sin. We enjoy cheap thrills for a while, make somewhat of an attempt to leave them behind, and are pulled back by shame and guilt. God has a bigger, more exciting ride in store, but our shame tells us not to wait.
The dimension of guilt and shame was not one I first considered when I read the story of the demon possessed man in Luke 8:26-39. In this story, we find a man completely controlled by Satan. The demons inside him cause him to take off his clothes and hurt himself. Jesus approaches him, living in tombs, and casts the demons out of him. People find the formerly demon possessed man “dressed and in his right mind”. This man was clothed in mercy and grace. Jesus’ presence is so powerful that it can drive away demons. No matter what is torturing, tormenting, or controlling you at this moment, Jesus can remove it. Jesus sees us as what we have the potential to be and we need to be as excited about this idea as he is. Let the pigs have shame and guilt. I want mercy and grace.
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