Backpack of Guilt

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah,
His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people
free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds
(Ephesians 1:7 MSG)

A backpack – an object that has many uses. It can be used in extra-curricular activities such as hiking to carry water and supplies, it can be used for educational purposes to tote books to school, and it can be used for utilitarian purposes to carry items needed for daily activities. It can also be used for a debilitating and detrimental purpose – to carry guilt.

Some people strap on their backpack of guilt each morning, and stumble along, trying to balance its deadweight on their backs. It impedes their walk, tires them out, and prevents them from enjoying life. And while they are struggling along, the Enemy keeps adding to the load until their legs give out, their knees buckle, and they fall headlong.

Do not hold onto that weight. It isn’t yours to carry. Someone else has already carried that backpack for you in the form of a wooden cross. Christ carried your backpack for you so that you would not have to.

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha) (John 19:17 NIV).

Strap your backpack of guilt on one last time, but instead of carrying it with it wherever you go, plan a destination - a holy destination. Take it to Calvary, unstrap it, lay it at the foot of the cross, and watch the blood Christ shed for you wash it away.

Now return home with a light step. Your backpack is gone. It is where it should be. Do not go back and retrieve it.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NLT)