Imagine going to the beach and seeing the words, “I hate my mom and dad” written in the sand. It was probably written by a young kid that was upset at their parents that day. Yet, farther down the pier, the contrasting words of, “I forgive you; I love you” are etched into the rocks.
Now, these words were going to be there for the rest of eternity because someone etched them into the rocks with deep stones or tools. It is a reminder that this is how forgiveness and the Apostles’ Creed should be in our lives. It should be etched in stone so that we never forget it and that we always forgive others no matter what.
Walking back to where the child who had written the words, “I hate my mom and dad,” the ocean had literally wiped away the words in the sand. The message could no longer be seen. No one would ever see them again. That is how forgiveness works. When it is etched in stone in our lives, we forgive ourselves and others. It allows us to be able to live in the power of Christ and his forgiveness and the sins and bitterness are literally washed away like the words in the sand that had been written by the boy. Our sins are forgiven and have been washed away by the blood of Christ. We no longer say, “I hate you,” but we say, “I love you and I forgive you!”