BURY THE DEAD
FORGIVENESS
«Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight» (Romans 4:7, NLT).
In Greek mythology, Polynices, Eteocles, Ismene, and Antigone were the children that resulted from the incestuous marriage between Oedipus, king of Thebes, and Jocasta, his mother. When Oedipus died, it is said that Polynices and Eteocles quarrelled over the throne and ended up killing each other. Then, their uncle Creon, Jocasta’s brother, proclaimed himself king, decreeing that Eteocles should be buried with honor while Polynices’ body should be left to be eaten by the birds of prey, because he had betrayed the kingdom by fighting against his homeland. However, Antigone disobeyed Creon and gave him a proper burial. In the drama Antigona Furiosa by Griselda Gambaro, the main character affirms: «I will always want to bury.
Polyneices. Though I a thousand times will live, and he a thousand times will die.»
Just as Antigone had mercy on her brother and buried his body, the Scriptures also emphasize that God has mercy on us and buries our past life. To be specific, He buries our sins into the depths of the sea (Mic. 7:19). «Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . .even so we also should walk in newness of life» (Rom. 6:3, 4). Baptism by immersion represents death to our previous life, which is characterized by evil desire, anger, malice, blasphemy, unclean passions, covetousness, lies, and fornication (Col. 3:5-9). At the same time, it represents the birth of a new life characterized by kindness, humility, mercy, patience, meekness, and love (vv. 12-14).
Nevertheless, there are many who are tormented by the recollection of their sins and suffer because they carry a corpse that Christ has already buried. They are aware that He can forgive them, but acting as if they were better than God, they cannot forgive themselves. Ellen White wrote the following inspiring phrase: «The language of the soul should be that of joy and gratitude. W any have dark chapters in their experience let them bury them. Let this history not be kept bright by repetition. Cultivate only those thoughts and those feelings which will produce gratitude and praise.» (In Heavenly Place, p. 36).
Are there past sins that invade your mind and upset you? Having confessed them and having been baptized, you have already given them an honorable burial. If they crop up a thousand times, bury them a thousand times! God loves you so much that He buries and forgets your mistakes so that you can be happy (Heb, 10: 17).
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Alejandra Zavala & Magda Sanz