One Scarred Hand to the Other

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

But just how far is the east from the west?

This we read in Psalms 103:12. Does anybody else feel at times that you’ve been forgiven in Heaven, yet still feel guilty? Like God has forgiven you, but you just can’t forgive yourself? I choose to quote the Christian musicians Casting Crowns (with some added emphasis), who portray our despair so well in singing…

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning
In your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where you found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know you've cast my sin as far
As the east is from the west
And I stand before you now
As though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus, can you show me just how far the east is from the west?
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
And time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus, can you show me just how far the east is from the west?
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I know you've washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night

I can't live by what I feel
About the truth your word reveals
And I'm not holding onto you
But you're holding onto me
You're holding onto me

Jesus, you know just how far the east is from the west?
I don't have to see the man I've been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

Just how far, the east is from the west, just how far
From one scarred hand to the other
You know just how far, the east is from the west, just how far

From one scarred hand to the other

We’re told that our sin is cast as far as the east is from the west. But just how far is the east from the west? Because sometimes, it doesn’t feel far enough. We know that God has chosen to wipe His memory of our sins, but we still remember them. We feel as Isaiah warns in 2 Nephi 9:46, “ye remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty- but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery.”

Let not the guilt of your humanly imperfections weigh you down. We read words from Nephi and Isaiah and assume that they’re these superhuman prophets who did incredible things. I think we forget sometimes that they’re human, just like me and you. Of course they chose to write mostly about the good things they did… wouldn’t you? I’m sure Nephi got just as frustrated with his family as we do at times. He probably messed up time and time again, and he knew this, but he didn’t let it drag him down and keep him from doing more great things.

At the day of our final judgment, it is not from the east nor the west where the Lord will look to justify our fate. Rather, the Lord looketh upon the heart. How far is the east from the west? Perhaps the distance of one scarred hand (ours forgiven) to the other (the Savior’s risen). If this be the case, then our transgressions are simply cast upon Him, where they died with Him on that cross of Calvary. Until that day of total relief from natural guilt, may we allow the disciple in us to rise again, as it did when Jesus rose again. For He truly lifts us up, from one scarred hand to the other.