I must admit that I never gave too much thought to the hero in scripture known as Rahab. By this point, everyone should be aware that she was a prostitute. Now "sin is sin" to God. That in itself is a hard one to get my head around. God doesn't really see "levels" of sin. No matter what the sin, it separates us from God. But to us humans, some sin seems bigger than others. Prostitution would have to rank up there pretty high.

What amazes me is Rahab didn't blink about her past sin once she made the deal with the spies. She didn't struggle with "Well, I don't know if God will come though. I WAS a harlot!" Once forgiveness is offered, she receives it and moves on with God. THAT'S faith!

I became a Christ-follower in August 1998. I will spare you from the details, but in a nut-shell, I was a wreck. I had long been addicted to and dealt meth, crack, coke and many other things. If you could drink it, snort it, eat it, or smoke it- I was there. One year prior to my conversion I found my best friend dead in his home. He had been shot in the head five times due to an argument over drugs. I had tried my best to destroy myself in finding satisfaction and fulfillment in life. There had to be more!

The day I surrendered my life to God, I didn't have much of a choice. I had tried everything to bring myself fulfillment and I was miserable. That day I made a deal with God. "You get me over wanting these drugs and I will give you my life." From that day forward I never had the desire to do meth or coke again. God had showed up in a BIG way. I was a NEW creation (2 Cor 5:17). You would think- "MAN that's awesome! Things must have been easy from there." Nope. I dealt with this thing called GUILT. I was such a horrible sinner I had a hard time believeing God would/could forgive and use someone like me. This could have crippled my growth as a new Christian.

Thankfully I learned how to trust God at His word even if I didn't understand it. The Lord gave me a nugget from scripture that I cling to even today when I struggle with guilt over confessed sin. 1 John 1:9- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

There are still days that I don't "feel" forgiven. It's during these times that I don't wallow in guilt over sin that I have already confessed. Instead I put emotion aside and trust what God promised. HE forgave me! No more guilt! I'M CLEAN!!