How Far is the East from the West anyway?

Psalm 103:11-12  "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Have you ever sat down and tried to figure out how far the east is from the west?  It's a kind of cunundrum, one of those things that really can't be defined in geographical or mathematical terms, although I am certain some of our more astute scholars out there may have some logical answer that none of the rest of us can comprehend.  I personally like the solution that the songwriters for Casting Crowns musical group came up with. In their song "East to West", they ask Jesus just how far the east is from the west, and the answer is, "One scarred hand to the other."  Think about it.  That is so profound, and yet so simple; that is, if you realize just what those scarred hands are all about.

As we approach Holy Week next week, the time of Christ's passion, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead, we will be reminded again about those scars in His hands...the scars where the nails were hammered through as He stretched out His arms to hang on the cross; where He suffered and died for the sins of the world...for my sins and yours. When we think about how far away our sins have been cast from us, think about this picture of Christ, with His arms stretched out wide as if to beckon each of us to come to Him, and there to find rest for our weary souls. That's how far the east is from the west.

Psalm 103:2-5 further explains just what the Savior did for us that day:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  John 15:13

Thank You, Lord, for laying down Your life so that I might find life everlasting. Thank You for casting my sins as far as the east is from the west, so that I don't have to be burdened by them anymore. Thank You for loving me that much, in spite of myself.  Amen.