We have little difficulty understanding that life seems to go in cycles at best, or in circles at worst. How often do we hear that old saw which says that what goes around comes around? As the wise one of scripture has so clearly stated, there is indeed a time for everything under heaven—seasons come and seasons go, right?

One has but read the bible to be made aware of the sins of the people of God. It seems they were always in trouble of some kind or other, and yet God also speaks of seasons, as we read in Jeremiah 50.20: ‘In those days, at that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none.’ A time will come when there is no guilt? How can that be?

The Kingdom of Israel was the Northern bunch who caused all of the trouble for the faithful of Judah—they became something like the stepchildren of God then. But faithful Judah became just as bad as Israel had become, and God threw them all into the same caldron of destruction in the Babylonian captivity.

But Jeremiah continues: ‘and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found.’ No sin in Judah? But I thought they had fallen over the edge in sinfulness. Well, God had another option, as Jeremiah concludes: ‘for I will forgive the remnant I spare.’ This becomes very real for us as we enter the season of our own life of faith in Jesus Christ. He has opened the door to our forgiven-ness and regardless of who or what we were—no sin will be found in us. IN JESUS WE HAVE BEEN SPARED!