He Can Make All Things New

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, wrote, “No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.”

We love the idea of Heaven, hope, and forgiveness, but none of it would be possible without the death of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus said, “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:28 NLT). And Hebrews 9:22 tells us, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (NLT).

Let’s say, for example, that you’re struggling with guilt over a sin that you committed years ago. It may have been a very serious sin, and you can’t seem to let it go. You’re saying, “I just need to forgive myself.”

But can you actually forgive yourself?

No. You’re not in a position to forgive yourself. Instead, you need to understand the power and completeness of God’s forgiveness that was purchased for you by the blood of Jesus Christ.

He paid the price for your sins and has forgiven and justified you. The Bible says, “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1 NLT).

This is not something we do; it’s what Christ has done for us. And He promises to cleanse us from all sins, not some sins (see 1 John 1:7–9).

I don’t know what the narrative of your life is, but I can tell you this: God can change your story. It can have a different ending than you’re expecting—if you turn it over to Him. Today can be a fresh start. He can make all things new.