"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound"

"And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them...the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God" (2 Chron. 33:10-13).

If you ever doubted the efficacy of God's grace and willingness to forgive sin all you have to do is look at the life of Manasseh. While bound by the enemy and in affliction because of his many sins, Manasseh humbled himself and sought the Lord. It's been said that sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay. Oh, but thank God that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. 5:20).

Manasseh's repentance extended well beyond his prison bars. When Manasseh returned to his throne he did much to make right his many wrongs. After his repentance the bible says, "Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel" (2 Chron. 33:14-16).

Manasseh's repentance extended well beyond his prison bars. When Manasseh returned to his throne he did much to make right his many wrongs. After his repentance the bible says, "Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel" (2 Chron. 33:14-16).

God will not overlook our sin, but when we humble ourselves in genuine repentance he will abundantly pardon.