God… pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant.
Micah 7:18
Micah preached this message to all the people of Israel. The sad fact is that to the vast majority of people, what Micah said didn’t make the slightest difference. Life went on exactly the same as it had before. Another day, another pound (or shekel).
The vast majority of people in Micah’s day were still caught up in their old sins, they had no defence against future temptations, and God’s anger remained on them. But there were a few who realised God was speaking to them, and they turned to Him in repentance. They asked for God’s pardon and prayed for His help to begin living different lives. These people were called the remnant— the group that remained.
Micah says, “God… [is] pardoning… the remnant.” In other words, He does not stay angry with them but delights to show them mercy. He treads their sins underfoot and hurls their sins into the depth of the ocean. He fulfils His promise to Abraham in them, as He walks with them through every circumstance of their lives.
Are you part of the remnant? Joining the remnant means standing apart from the crowd—the crowd at school, in business, or in the highstreet. You can join the remnant today. You can come to the risen Lord Jesus Christ and say to Him: Do this for me! Remove the condemnation of God’s wrath from me. Hurl my past sins into the depths of the sea. Walk with me, teach me, lead me into a new life that pleases you. Crush my future temptations under your feet.
This is what He wants to do for you, and when you begin to experience it, you will say with Micah: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant?”
Is your life going to go on the same after hearing that God pardons sin and forgives transgression? Or are you going to turn to God in repentance and ask for His pardon and for His help to begin living a different life?
