THE GIFT OF EXPUNGEMENT

A woman that I know has a criminal history.  Her past crimes would not allow her to gain custody of her grandkids.  However, several years ago she became a new person in Christ.  Her alcohol and drug addictions, her anger and hatred and bitterness were all removed from her life and replaced with grace and forgiveness and mercy and peace and the fruit of the Spirit.  She began to treat others with compassion and become a light in the darkness of her community.  

By God's grace, the law in the State of California acknowledges that people can be transformed and such people may apply for "expungement" of their crimes. That means that they satisfied their debt to society and their past crimes and punishment will be forgotten and treated as if they never happened.  This woman applied for expungement and the expungement was granted.  Her criminal past was wiped clean.

She then re-applied for custody of her grandkids.  The State started to look at her past criminal record in order to deny her custody, but she pointed to the expungement.  The State had to admit that it could not count her past against her.  She was a new person in the eyes of the State.  They could only look at her present life and the evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  They granted her request for custody and recommended that she adopt her grandkids - a result that was impossible without expungement.  

The gift of expungement is for everyone.  God has offered you and me expungement of our sinful nature and our past offenses against Him.  Jesus Christ is our expungement - He took our punishment on Himself and declares us innocent of crimes that can no longer be used against us.  He has cloaked us with His holiness and entrusted us with the Holy Spirit, that we might never look back, but instead reflect the power of a transformed life.  As holy children, God has adopted us into His family and given to us of His nature, that we might reflect His presence in this world.  

Expungement was God's idea.  The State of California was influenced by God's idea of redemption and transformation.  We can all celebrate with my friend.