And the Lord sent Nathan unto David . . . . And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king. 2 Sam. 12:1-7.

The Bible never conceals the faults and sins of its noblest characters. The Scripture never flatters its heroes. It tells the truth about each one in order that against this background of human failure we may see and magnify the grace and the mercy of God. We see how God loves men as they are. We learn how graciously God deals with all of us.

Few men have sinned as grievously as David. Few men have so totally returned to God to seek forgiveness, cleansing, and inward restoration. He is the man who wrote most of the Psalms, the devotional book of the Bible.

Certain things become clear in the experience of David: first, sooner or later our weaknesses will be exposed. Second, we have to live with the consequences of our sins and our turning away from God.

The first two decades of David's prominence as leader and king were marked by brilliant conquests. The second two were dark as midnight. For years Satan had probed a vulnerable spot, gradually leading him toward disaster. Finally, he is broken before God and confesses: "I have sinned against the Lord." The amazing grace of our Lord drew him back. By the power of God's Spirit he is made new. God made him a changed man, a converted man.

We are a new creation by the power of God. We may despair over our sins, but God does not. God works and moves upon us to restore us to the image of His Son. Let us not fear the pressure of His hand. For it is employed in tenderness and love.

God always takes the initiative. He continually calls upon us to look to His Son, in whom is all the wisdom, power, and love of God. We cannot atone for our sins. We cannot blot out our transgressions. We cannot cleanse our hearts.

Salvation is a personal matter. We must say: "This love of God concerns me personally. This means life for me. This I must embrace. I cast the ultimate responsibility for my life on God. 'Thou, O Christ, art all I want.'"