Hanged on Your Own Gallows

One of the highlights of my week is when my two best friends and I get together for a Bible study. Recently we've been going through the book of Esther, and have been learning some very important lessons! A few weeks ago we were discussing Esther 7, in which Haman--also known as chief enemy of the Jews--is hanged.
My friends and I were talking about the irony of Haman building 75-foot high gallows for his enemy (in this case, Mordecai the Jew) and then the next day be hung on those same gallows.

Basically, in other words, being hanged on your own gallows. You've put all this hard work and money into the gallows, just to get the devilish joy out of watching your enemy die. And then the king hangs you on your own gallows. How would you feel about that? I can't tell you how much I wish I knew what was running through Haman's mind when he found out what his punishment was to be!

While we living in the 21st century may not physically build gallows and then be hanged on them, do we still kind of do the same thing in a different way? I think when we have guilt over doing something we know we shouldn't do we are hanged on our own gallows. For example, when we are thinking about a sin, we may just do it, trying not to think about whether we should do it or not. After we've committed the transgression, we feel really bad about it. The "feeling bad" part is what I'm talking about. After we've sinned, we are figuratively hanged on our own gallows.

It's not fun to figuratively be hanged on our own gallows. We feel guilty, sorry for the sin that we've committed. The good news is that Jesus Christ will forgive us our sins! 1 John 1:9--

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Of course, this verse doesn't mean that we have a free license to do absolutely whatever we want and God will still forgive us. What this verse does say is that when we sin and are truly sorry for what we've done, God will forgive us. One part of this verse that I feel is brushed aside but is nevertheless important is the last part:

"purify us from all unrighteousness."

After we confess our sins, God will forgive us. But that's not where he stops! He goes further than just forgiving us--he purifies us. He purifies, changes us so that we won't want to sin anymore. If we ask him, God will strengthen us so we will and can resist temptation.

Isn't that wonderful? With God on our side, we won't have to be hanging on our own gallows. We will be free and happy living wonderful lives with him.

Are you still hanging on your own gallows, or are you living guilt-free with Jesus??