Satan’s greatest lie and possibly your greatest mistake is centered in his telling and your believing that you are too lost to be loved by God; for though you make your bed in hell He (God) is there. The man, who knows that he is a sinner is actually the ripest pickings for the salvation that Jesus came to purchase for that man or woman: for you if you are without him, yet of a contrite heart.

It on the other hand is the haughty man of complete unbelief, who has come to occupy the loftiest places both in his mind and in his world, who has taken up the residence intended only for God within his innermost being. For that place was established within each man as the throne of man’s being. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God”. That place when empty is reserved and to be occupied by God alone. It cries out to be filled. So over time the emptiness is filled with the desires that drive us. Every sin that ever we commit echoes somewhere throughout that innermost chamber. It calls out to us for purpose, while it seeks full deliverance.

Justification for what resides there is necessary for man’s mental wellbeing. Justification will come to us through our own rationalization if God has not been given residence there. We can neatly package our sin and fill the space with our own self efforts. It seems that it is possible to even hide our sin from ourselves as did David with Bathsheba. Man without God’s forgiveness actually becomes the justifier of his own actions. He in effect becomes his own god. He forgives himself for his sin.

Justification through forgiveness by ones own self, comes when one forgets and casts out or covers over all the categories of his sin; forgiving himself and sweeping the floors clean, not realizing that the demons are awaiting to take up residence, and Jesus says that then his latter state becomes worse than his first.

But there is the man for whom God seeks. This man not only knows that he has sinned. He has actually come to hate his sin and to think of himself as the chief of all sinners. He knows that he cannot defeat sin without a power outside of his own self. He may not yet know that it is provided him only through God. But when he hears of God’s forgiveness and of His justification. He hungers as he learns of all that he has available: beginning with God’s act or payment for his sin and of His forgiveness and provision to make clean and then occupy that place. A space which was created for God alone within him. He finds truth. He finds Jesus. He turns away from his sin and to God, who alone is able to cast away his sins; cleansing him with His own blood, and taking up residence within him bringing him peace, giving him purpose.

Which of these men are you? If you know that sin is your enemy and that it is dwelling within you, there is Good News, for Jesus came that you may have this cleansing, and His Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God awaits to take up His residence within, and He will direct your paths. In Him there is life everlasting.

If you are that haughty man and you ever actually see yourself as such; then there is hope even for you. Pray that you fall on CHRIST the rock, for if the rock falls on you all hope is gone. But even you, He is able to make new, if you call upon Him.