One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 103. The whole Psalm is a commentary on the many blessings God has given to his children. Of the many verses in this psalm, I was impressed with one in particular this morning, verse 12.

” As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

My question for you: how far is the east from the west?

Many years ago, I heard a retired airline pilot explain the difference.

He began first explaining the difference between N S and E W. He explained that there is one very significant difference. He said when you fly north from Dallas you will reach the North Pole. As you continue over the North Pole, you are now going south.

As you continue to travel south you come to the South Pole and if you continue over the South Pole, now you’re heading north to Dallas.

By contrast, if I set my compass to go east, I will travel east. And as long as I do not change the compass I will continue going east.

As long as my compass is set to go east, I will never be going west.

The Bible says, “As far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Is this just an exercise in semantics or is there a difference in north to south – east to west? In God’s economy and by application the answer is “yes.”

North to south Is circular. while east to west Is linear. By circular I mean my past will be repeated, if I do not change course. Linear means the past is behind me and my future is before me.

Once a person receives Jesus by faith as personal Savior, that person is born into God’s family and nothing can change that! The linear path has begun and is permanent! The life of the new Christian is now underway. The Bible teaches very clearly that once a person is in God’s family, by faith in Jesus, that person will never be removed from God’s family. There is no “about face” in God’s economy.

The Bible includes many verses that support this conclusion. Let me note two:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5: 24)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand, I and my father are one.” (John 10:27-29)

As we continue moving into the future with our heavenly Father, are we then free from sin? The answer of course is no; we are free from the eternal penalty of sin, but not the physical consequences of sin. Only one person who has ever lived has been completely free from sin and that was our precious Jesus. When we do sin, and we will, we simply tell God that we have sinned.

“ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“ He that covers his sins shall not prosper: But who so confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28: 13)

So, how far is far? as far as the east is from the west.

The question for you is very simple: in which direction are you going? Your answer determines where you will spend eternity.