John Newton, who wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace,” was once the captain of a slave trading ship. In 1748, caught in a great storm at sea, he turned to God and became a Christian. In time he became a wonderful parish priest and built a great church.
As an old man and blind, he began dictating his memoirs. One day he said, speaking of the thousands of slaves he transported on his ship, “I lived my life in the shadow of 20,000 ghosts.”
Sin can do that to you. Even after it is forgiven the haunting memory of your wrong can linger. Is there any answer to a guilty conscience? Yes. It is the forgiveness and cleansing of Christ.
First John 1:9 is the Christian’s bar of soap. How often do I wash my hands? As often as I need to. How often do I confess my sins? As often as I need to. Every time we sin we go to him for forgiveness, and he lifts the burden of guilt from us.