Can I come clean with God?

People wonder, can I come clean with God? Can I start fresh, a clean slate? After all I have done? Mistakes, bad behavior, hurting people, misuse of people and power. It can be hard to accept his forgiveness. Perhaps you feel like you can not be forgiven. You believe whatever you’ve done has gone too far for God’s grace.

Remember, that guy with the big mouth, "Everyone will deny you, but not me," Peter had said. Jesus called him the Rock. Then came this dark night. He wanted to go with Jesus when he was arrested. Follow him. Help him. Fight for him.

Instead he denied Jesus three times. Afraid for his life. The rooster crowed and reminded him that Jesus already predicted this. Some stories say Jesus even made eye contact with him before he left the place and cried. Peter did the thing he said he’d never do, he denied Jesus.

John, who wrote this biography of Jesus, ends his book with the story of Jesus restoring Peter. Through this painful process Jesus is drawing Peter’s attention to the primacy of love when it comes to repentance. Peter had already cried, he was sorry, Jesus knew that. He needed Peter to know that it was his love that mattered most. That love is the source of all the work he would be called to from that moment on.

This is all recorded so that we would believe in Jesus. Most importantly that we can always reconnect to Jesus, in love. After his betrayal, Peter stays with Jesus. He didn't stay away out of shame. I know Jesus will welcome you in love and begin to use you for his work. Jesus is true love. He wants to be reconnected with you. That was his job on earth. That is why he came. He does not push you away, but moves toward you in love.