The deepest part of the ocean lies in within the Mariana Trench, and it is called the Challenger Deep. This is just south of the island of Guam. The bottom is approximately 7 miles (technically, 6.8) down. For perspective, Mount Everest is the tallest peak on land at about 5.5 miles high. It fits nicely within the Challenger Deep with about 1.5 miles of water above it. Therefore, if someone put anything in the Challenger Deep, that would be the utter removal of it. There’s nowhere deeper on our planet.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at today’s text: “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Obviously, the prophet Micah didn’t have The Mariana Trench in mind, let alone the Challenger Deep. But that’s not the point. At the conclusion of his prophecy, Micah has come to yearn for that future day when the Lord utterly removes the sins of his covenant people (see 1 Peter 1:10-12). That future removal of sin will be like the Lord burying them seven miles down in the Challenger Deep.

What Micah hoped for—the utter removal of our sin—you and I have experienced in Christ by the Spirit. For example, the author of Hebrews teaches that Jesus “…has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). In another place, the same writer teaches that Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father after he offered himself for all time as a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:10).

Friends, I realize that many of you know this gospel by heart. You hear it often here at Indian Trail Church. Maybe the gospel has become like background noise in your life; it no longer captures your imagination. Even so, let’s rehearse it one more time: if you have repented of your sins, and trusted in Christ as your Savior, your sins have been cast into the deepest part of the ocean. They are seven miles down in the Challenger Deep. They won’t ever rise from there to harass you like a thousand little hobgoblins.

Friends, let us declare in praise the words of Micah the prophet:

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” —Micah 7:18-19