An Iron Pen
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 17:1
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of a diamond, it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars…
Sin leaves a mark; deep and indelible. Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin, is a slave to sin.” We cannot plant the seeds of iniquity without iniquity putting down deep roots in our souls. Jeremiah vividly describes the effects of Judah’s idolatry here as it being engraved or tattooed on the tablet of their heart with a pen of iron. Whenever someone sins, we can borrow the common refrain, “That’ll leave a mark,” and apply it to their life.
What Jeremiah meant by sin being engraved on the horns of Judah’s altars is up for debate. Some take it that Jeremiah was referring to the idolatrous altars on which the blood of the victims of idolatry was spread. Others think that he was in fact talking about the altars in Jerusalem’s temple. The first seems more likely since he goes on in verse two to write about the altars of the idols.
Either way, Jeremiah’s point is that sin leaves a permanent mark. So, what can be done for sinners like us? Paul used similar language in Colossians 2:14 where he wrote, Christ has “canceled out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, that was contrary to us; and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.”
If we join in asking the question of the hymn writer, “What can wash away my sin?” the only answer possible is also, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Our sin leaves a mark that cannot be removed except by that which has the power nothing else does – the blood of Christ. It was and is through His death on the cross that that which was against us was taken out of the way because it was nailed to the cross and put to death with Him. Jesus' blood is the only “magic eraser” for the mark sin makes on us.
