Jump Start # 1624

Matthew 27:5 “And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”

This week we are looking at the feelings, attitudes and emotions that often consume us and should not be a part of our hearts as we walk with Christ. However, too often these are. They affect us, often define us and even defeat us. Hatred, fear and now we look at guilt. Guilt comes in different flavors and strengths. There is remorse. There is regrets. There is shame. There is embarrassment. These are connected  to guilt.

Our verse today, about Judas, illustrates how guilt can consume a person to such a depth that he sees no way out. For some, it’s walking away from a marriage. For others, it’s pills or the bottle. For others, it’s suicide, the route that Judas took.

On the surface, it’s hard to figure Judas out. He got what he wanted. He turned Jesus over to the Jewish hierarchy and was paid for his evil duties. There were no surprises in this. There had been earlier attempts on Jesus’ life. Once, they tried to stone Him. On another occasion, they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. Each time, somehow, Jesus got away. But this time, He didn’t. The Jews got the Romans involved. Pilate. Soldiers. Crucifixion. Jesus was not getting out, not this time. Remorse hit Judas. The lust for easy money overcame him. When he thought about it, he regretted it. There was no going back now. It was too late. The deed was done. It was done before all the apostles. It was done with the soldiers. Everyone knew. And now, Judas was a man without a county. Who would stand with Judas? Not the apostles. Not the Romans. Not the Jews. His selfish thirst for gain, cost him everything. He now had nothing, including Jesus. The Lord had been good to Judas. He had washed his feet. He had fed him. He had witnessed the goodness of the Savior. Diseased and demon possessed people were cured because of Jesus. There never was a mean moment with Jesus. True to His cause and purpose to the very end. And in that late night garden prayer, here came Judas with an armed mob to take Jesus away. His greed overcame sense, reason and even friendship. He had ruined a relationship with Jesus. For three years Judas had traveled with Jesus and the eleven. Friendships formed. Bonds were made between them. They had been in storms together. They had seen the most unbelievable. And now, for a few pieces of silver, he ended all of that. His shame and his guilt destroyed him.

Guilt is the after taste of wrong. One doesn’t feel guilty when they have done right. We don’t leave worship services with a sense of shame and guilt. It’s when we know that we have done something wrong that guilt comes. Guilt is a feeling and an emotion given by God. Guilt is based upon a person realizing that they have done something wrong. God doesn’t expect us to live with guilt. That guilt ought to drive us to the mercy of God. Guilt can lead to positive changes. But, guilt can overcome a person. A person may think that they are too far gone for even God to save. Guilt of being caught, guilt of embarrassment has ruined many hearts.

The moment of passion can catch a person. Reason is tossed out. The next thing you know a person has crossed the line of fidelity and they have broken their vows. It was exciting and fun. They felt alive. But now, after the fact, reality catches up with them. They realized what they have done. There is no do-overs. That guilt and the fear of a mate finding out, leads to running away, and even suicide.

Guilt is something that all of us should have experienced in our lives. The Bible tells us that all of us have sinned. That fact. That reality. That understanding ought to make a person feel wrong. They were wrong. Don’t try to excuse the sin. Don’t justify it. Don’t hide it. Don’t rename it. Don’t try to make it pretty. Don’t laugh it off. Don’t blame others. We have sinned. We have broken the heart of God. We have disappointed God. We chose silver over Jesus. We let the Lord down. That ugly feeling of guilt will drive us to our knees or make us run from God. Those that run, ruin their conscience. They devote a lifetime to sin and no longer do they blush. Their mouths become filthy. They ways wicked. Their hearts cold and calloused. They ignore and refuse to acknowledge God. They take the Holy name of God in vain. They have sold their souls to the devil.

For others, guilt leads us home. I expect the prodigal walked home differently than the way he left. He left with a pocket full of money and a head full of wild ideas. He came home broken, ashamed and guilty. The guilty walk with their heads down. The guilty look guilty in the eyes. Guilt can lead us to God’s forgiving grace. It is the mercy of God that we now seek. Sorry. Promising to do better. Begging for a second chance. The guilty can find hope in a God that forgives.

Feeling guilty is not a place that most want to be. We can feel guilt because we forgot someone’s birthday or our own anniversary. We can feel guilt because we promised to be there for someone and we weren’t. The greatest guilt comes from moral failures. We hurt a friendship because we gossiped. We broke the rules and got kicked out of school, fired from a job or arrested by the police. The elders of the church come to our home to talk to you about some things you have done that has hurt other members. Guilty. Caught. Ashamed.

What one does with their guilt shows what they are made of. It reveals their character and their faith. Stop trying to manifest a image of perfection. You only fool yourself when you do that. Be honest and be real. We fumble the ball. We let others down. We break God’s commands. We hurt our family. We disappoint others. The finger points at us. Each of us, sitting in a circle, could stand up, say our name and confess, “I am a sinner.” Do you continue to beat yourself up for those mistakes and sins? Do you punish yourself? Do you remain on guilt street? Do you throw in the towel on all things good and decent? Do you quit life? Do you seek the mercy of God and the forgiveness of others?

God uses guilt to move us closer to Him. God does not intend for us to live with guilt the rest of our lives. Guilt will destroy. Guilt will keep us from reaching the heights that God wants.

One more thing about guilt. Some folks use guilt to pressure and get what they want from another. Parents can do this. Along with the Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, comes a heaping of guilt. “You don’t call us very often.” “Why don’t you come around more?” “One of these days, we won’t be here and then you’ll have all the time to run around with your friends.” Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Some refuse to release us from guilt. They don’t want to forgive. They want to remind you of what you did that was wrong. They don’t plan on forgetting and they certainly don’t plan on you ever forgetting. They continue to pick at the scab so the wound never heals. That adds to the guilt. They now have a problem and that is not forgiving. They are now wrong with God because they will not release the pain that you have caused. So, the guilt remains.

From Disney’s Frozen, we need to just “Let it go.” Let it go. Learn. Do better. Seek forgiveness. Make it right. Apologize. Then let it go. If you don’t, if you won’t, if you can’t, the guilt will become a monster inside of you and it will change you for the worse. Sour. Miserable. And ugly, you become because of the guilt.

Apologize where you can. Make it right where you should. Seek the forgiveness of God and others. Then, “Let it go.”

Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving…until it destroys you.

Roger