Are you ready for the ultimate joy?

Ultimate joy sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? I have felt it many times in my walk with God, but one incident is still vivid in my memory. 

It was a normal Sunday at the International Church of Las Vegas. The worship took me to a place that almost seemed like heaven, a place I’ve only been once. I was on my knees worshiping God, as I often find myself. On my knees is the safest place to be: humble, bowed down, and adoring the King of Kings. That day, I saw myself sitting at a table, and there was a strong light at the head of the table that I knew was God. In my mind, I heard a pressing question: “What do you want?” My mind raced through a list in milliseconds, and I landed on one thing: “I want holiness.” 

friend, you must understand that God is holy, and I’m not. He’s perfect, and I’m imperfect. I need forgiveness. I need cleansing. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, but I’ve discovered that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV) 

Ultimate joy comes when we receive forgiveness. Complete cleansing! The psalmist reveals the feeling of ultimate joy with these words: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalms 51:12, NIV) Wow!

friend, have you been completely forgiven? Would you like to be forgiven? Yes? Great, then cry out to God and allow Him to forgive you for every sin and mistake you’ve ever made. The Bible says, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.” (Psalms 51:7-8, NIV) Hallelujah! This stuff is real. God is real, and He will really cleanse you.

Do you feel the ultimate joy yet? No guilty conscience? No self-loathing? I’m praying you will come back to this spot of repentance and cleansing often because you are a miracle. And I love you more than nachos.