Act 3 Scene 4

Having been involved with a Shakespearan tragedy everyday of these winter months has not been the ray of sunshine Scott and I have been searching for. But with the closing of Macbeth comes feelings of gratitude and a spiritual... settling, if you will. There are innumberable spiritual lessons that can be learned, but one of the most relevant ones I learned was about repentance.

Macbeth was a good man, a war hero, and highly loved by the king and friends. But after hearing a prophecy from three witches, he and his wife start on a murdurous rampage to ensure power for themselves. After murdering his best friend (and seeing his ghost), Macbeth reflects:

"I am in blood/ Stepp'd in so far that should I wade no more,/ Returning were as tedious as go o'er." (Act 3 Scene 4).

Isn't that just what Satan wants us to think? We sit and say "oh no, I've done it now. There's no repenting from this one. It's too hard to go backwards, so I might as well keep going in the direction I know is horrible because that just seems EASIER than repenting for what I've already done."

How grateful I am for the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ. He offers a continually outstretched hand so that I never have to wonder if repentance is TOO tedious. When we sin, we step away from God. What mercy and love from the perfect Creator to allow us to step away from Him, and then allow us to draw even closer through repentance. I have felt this love at times when I have done things that I, for some reason, thought could never be taken away. I had somehow convinced myself that I had stepped in sin so far that I should wade no more, but should drown. But I have also felt the overwhelming mercy, light, and warm love of Christ as I turned toward Him for direction, peace, and forgiveness. He is who I live for. He is my Master and King. May I be a trumpet of angels to proclaim his everlasting love- or even just the mouthpiece.