Sin is like a tattoo. Imprinted. Permanent. It leaves a mark that can’t be removed cleanly. Not even vinegar and baking soda can wash it away.

I’ve met people with arms covered in tattoos, living and burning for Christ. Their lives have been transformed by His redeeming grace. I also know a saved individual who used to have tattoos printed on the inside. 

And that person is me. 

My Tattoos of Sins

There was a period in my life when I had strayed from the Father for years. Bitterness, hatred, self-pity, and idolatry filled me. Despite knowing how dirty I was and how my sins kept me from fellowshipping with Christ, I continued to feed them.

Manifold were the number of times the Bible had convicted me, but I let my tattoos envelop me. If you had seen them back then, you would have grimaced in disgust and found it hard to believe that I was a saved child of God.

Lie – His Blood Can’t Remove My Tattoos

My heart hardened against the Lord while I continued to indulge in my sins like a dog returning to his vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Yet the double-edged Word pricked me steadfastly until my heart was pierced. I repented and pivoted around to submit to Him. Although my tattoos were gone, my past reminded me of them. They were too many and had brought me too far from Him. 

He can’t forgive all of them. I’m too sinful.

At least, that was what I thought.

Truth – His Blood Can Wash Away My Tattoos

Guilt and shame drowned me under their black ink. Then, a verse from Psalms pulled me up.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12 (KJV)

Although vinegar and baking soda can’t wash tattoos away, the blood of Christ can. Because once He forgives me, my tattoos are removed, “[a]s far as the east is from the west”.

From there on, I pressed forward in faith that my Savior does forgive. And the consequences of my tattoos? I accepted them from the chastening hand of my Father (Proverbs 3:11-12), who then leads me and purges me with His truth. To be more like Him and less of who I was before.

During the process, Satan tried countless times to shift my focus to the disgracefulness of my former tattoos, but the verse from Psalms kept my eyes lifted to the One who had hung on the cross; the One who was and is full of grace (​​John 1:14-16). 

So, dear prodigal child, if you find yourself recalling your tattoos, remember that the Savior has already paid for them all and removed them fully and perfectly.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”. – Ephesians 1:7