Gravedigger

Gravediggers, in the good sense are people who dig graves to bury bodies when they die. As Christian’s, we are all called to dig the grave for our old sinful nature. The old flesh man has passed away, the Spirit man lives.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭‬‬

When Pastor Ness said the word, “gravediggers” that was not the picture that came to mind. I immediately thought of someone digging up the graves of those who had already been buried. Seeing a fresh grave where a body has been buried for years, is a little troubling. I’ve been there in the natural; you have a lot more questions than answers.

In the spiritual though, I realize I’ve been a gravedigger, both of my own grave and the grave of others. When I chose to bring up my past sin, I am digging it up from the grave. When I am throwing up past sins at others, I am digging up their old sinful nature as well.

When we come to Christ, we accept the forgiveness of our sin. That forgiveness took place on the cross. It was finished there. It died with Him. It was buried with Him. We are only appropriating it to our lives now.

So our sin has been buried in the grave. I don’t need to be a grave digger trying to bring it back to the present and allowing it to have power in my life. I wouldn’t go dig up human remains; why do I continually try to dig up sinful remains?

It is time that I left my sins buried. They do not need to have a place in my life. They don’t need another funeral, they are already dead. I don’t need to keep digging them back up, bringing them to God. He has already forgiven them, and has chose to remove them.

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms‬ ‭103:12‬ ‬‬

Maybe a good goal as this year ends, is to lay down my shovel and stop being a grave digger. I am already a new creation in Christ. Daily I can chose to let my flesh die and let my Spirit live. I can stop digging up my past sins, and leave them where they are.