Grabbing for the Brass Ring

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

Anyone who has been around as long as I have will surely remember personally the "brass ring" that riders of the old carousel at the fun park used to try to grab as they rode 'round and 'round on their paint-gilded hobby horse. For those of you younger than that, well, you'll just have to watch some old movies of that era. What fun it was to try to "grab the brass ring" as you whirled around and past it each time. Reaching... reaching... reaching... stretching a little further each time until you got it. The part I can't remember is whether or not you got a free ride on the carousel when you did succeed in grabbing that ring. Hmm! Maybe someone older than I can help me out with that one.

Today it seems that when it comes to the mercy and forgiveness of God, many of us are likewise trying to "grab the brass ring" as we go around in life. We love to quote this very same verse of Scripture each time that we mess up and stand in need of forgiveness. Unfortunately, that same forgiveness so readily available to us becomes for us a "brass ring" that is right there within reach. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. 'Round and 'round she goes. After a while, you don't even notice or care about the messing up part anymore simply because, after all, you've always got God's "brass ring"!

Maybe it's time to climb down off that carousel for a moment and take a closer look at something else that the Apostle John wrote in this same passage.

"My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin" (2:1)

Hold it right there! Did you catch that, beloved? God's willingness to forgive us when we mess up is not just some spiritual "brass ring" that dangles in front of us and all we have to do is not think about it but just grab it next time around. He clearly wants us to think about our choices before we make them. In fact, John makes it clear that God would rather not have to forgive us at all! As willing as He is to forgive and cleanse us when we do sin, He would much rather that we not need that forgiveness in the first place.

I don't know about you, but I think that I've ridden that old carousel enough. I'm ready to start taking more seriously the need to walk in holiness before Him and not just be glad I've got a brass ring to grab so that I can be forgiven. Want to join me?

Ron