Justified

I was up by 6:30 this morning, very odd - considering I slept at around 2 last night. But somehow I knew I had to get up. So I got out my Bible and started reading. And I read today's Streams in the Desert. And it spoke about heaven , and how our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed when we see Christ face to face. (Romans8:18).(exactly what Ruth and I spoke about yesterday) And the passage came with this really cool story of a blind man. This wealthy young man of high social standing had been blinded by an accident at the age of ten. In spite of his blindness, he had graduated from the university with honors and had now won the heart of his beautiful bride, although he had never looked upon her face. Shortly before his marriage he underwent a new round of treatments by his specialists, and the result was ready to be revealed on the day of his wedding.
The big day arrived, with all the guests and their presents. The groom, dressed for the wedding but with his eyes still covered by bandages, rode to the church with his father. His famous ophthalmologist met then in the vestry of the church.
The bride entered the church on the arm of her white-haired father. She was so moved, she could hardly speak. Would the man she loved finally see her face - a face other admired but he know only through the touch of his delicate fingertips?
As she neared the altar, while the soft strains of the wedding march floated through the church, she saw an unusual group. There before her stood the groom, his father, and the doctor. The doctor was in the process of cutting away the last bandage.
Once the bandage was removed, the groom took a step forward, yet with the trembling uncertainty of someone who is not completely awake. A beam of rose-colored light from a pane in the window above the altar fell across his face, but he did not seem to see it.
Could he see anything? Yes! Recovering in an instant his steadiness and demeanor, and with a dignity and joy never before seen on his face, he stepped forward to meet his bride. They looked into each other's eyes, and it seems as if his gaze would never wander from her face.
"At last!" she said. "At last," he echoed solemnly, bowing his head. It was a scene with great dramatic power as well as one of great joy. Yas as beautiful as this story is, it is but a mere suggestion of what willa ctually take place in heaven when Christians, who have been walking through this world of trial and sorrow see Him face to face.

And then I started reading Romans... And suddenly it dawned on me that all our sins have been justified.
Because God is a JUST God, sin did require punishment. He couldn't just say "never mind I'll let you off the hook" with mere words - So Jesus paid for it ALL. He paid for it. He died to provide justification for all our sins!! So that's why when we do fall... We know that as we have faith in his blood, we are JUSTIFIED! Everything has been paid for. We don't to have to 'do time' anymore for whatever bad choices we make in our lives. I feel so utterly liberated and freed. forever and ever. And with knowing this grace, I will live differently.

I'm sorry friend,
for how I put you in prison in my mind. For thinking that you had to do time-
When we both have been justified and have been freed from the punishment of sin.
I am sorry.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice. . . he . . . justifies those who have faith in Jesus" Romans 3:23-26

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (4:8)

I'm so glad
I woke up early.