West Coast Redwoods

     The East Coast is only a 3 hour time difference from the West Coast but they are worlds apart. The East Coast is steeped in history–for that is where our country began. The West Coast is often referred to as a youngster–immature, fun-loving, lacking in traditions, and somewhat disrespectful.
     The pride of the East rests on its cultural offering, its sophistication, formality, experience, knowledge, and wisdom. After all, the seat of our government is there. International political figures argue complex issues at the United Nations. It has New York, New York, Broadway plays, Times Square~the list goes on.

New York Skyline

     The educational institutions are rock solid in the East from the Ivy League Schools of Harvard, Princeton, Yale to the public universities of Rutgers, Penn State, University of North Carolina, University of Connecticut (which beat us, University of Arizona, in basketball’s Elite Eight.)  Just a few of the renowned schools of higher education found on the East Coast. On the West Coast, only Stanford and the University of Southern California rank among the top 10 or so universities in scholastic prominence in the country.

United Nations, NY

     The West Coast’s culture is also vastly different. Life is lived more casually. Tie, optional, if at all. The climate somewhat lacks respect and perfect manners. It wouldn’t make it in Amy Vanderbilt’s complete book of etiquette. The West Coast is about life outdoors. Rugged. Adventurous. Risky.

     While thousands flock to the East Coast for a historically, cultural experience. Those same people  throng
to the West Coast for its jagged mountain peaks and pristine lakes, its thundering waterfalls pouring into the Yosemite Valley, its back country hiking through flowering meadows and thick forests.
     Yes, the West is vastly different from the East. My point?

     If life can be worlds apart from the East Coast to the West Coast, and they are only separated by a mere 2500-3000 miles, how much more have our sins been separated from us when the Lord says:

     “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”? Psalm 103:12 NIV

     We are worlds away from our sins. In attempting to understand the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary for us, I have included just a few other Scriptures to meditate on for this Holy Thursday and Good Friday through Easter.

     “In your love, you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Isaiah 38:17

     “This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:20 NIV

     “‘Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'” Isaiah 1:18 NIV

     Are you struggling trying to change? Trying to free yourself from your sins? Striving to live in love?
     There’s only one way for that to be accomplished. Come reason with the Lord and discover how His crimson blood can purify you and continue purifying you so that you are white like wool. Free from the sins and life that entangles you.
     It is a journey and a process. Once you take that step, you will be moving into a deeper and freer relationship with the Lord.

     Celebrate His goodness, His sacrifice, His example of service this Holy Thursday.