Cuz… there just might not be… a tomorrow that is.
Our NEW Song “Forgive”:
Please Read Our Previous Post Introducing the Song Forgive HERE
Yesterday I watched this talk by Hector Black about forgiving the man who had brought such great pain to him and his family after he murdered his adopted daughter. It was a powerful talk and not to be missed! Please watch it:
Wow right? Can you believe how that story ended? That was amazing! How could that even be possible?!?
I don’t pretend to suggest that forgiveness is ever easy. Our wounds may run very deep. But God’s love and grace can run deeper still and by his grace we can experience a “peace that passes all understanding”.
Forgiveness frees us from being tortured by the wounds others have inflicted upon us. And then by extending this forgiveness to those who have wounded us, we have the power to release the offender from the hell of their dark prison cell and into the redemptive comforting light of Christ. Yes, there is truly no one beyond the reach of his redemption.
Are you or I prepared to annul Christ’s sacrifice for any lost and wretched soul?
I am planning in future blog posts to talk about all those lost and wretched souls in Scripture who had found forgiveness with God and became trophies of God’s grace. It never was about us anyway, but about displaying the profound mercy and grace of our loving heavenly Papa.
Manasseh is one of the most profound examples that shows us the extent of God’s forgiveness. He had murdered hundreds of innocent people and terrorized Israel as its most wicked king for fifty some years. He even sacrificed his own children in sacrifice to demons and was lured into the power and seduction of sorcery. He finally reached out to God from a prison cell and God forgave him! Not only that but God restored him as king! With his last few remaining years as king, Manasseh encouraged everyone to worship God. But, the nation of Israel still had to suffer the consequences of his past choices. Yes, sin still may have some unavoidable consequences. We all know this.
Paul the apostle who was essentially the ISIS of his day hunting down and murdering Christians was shown mercy and then made the spokesperson for the Christian faith to all the Gentiles.
King David had one of his best and most loyal friends killed so he could have his wife! Yet he was shown mercy and God said of him that he was a man after God’s own heart.
The list goes on and on.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
So, how important is forgiveness? According to Jesus it is absolutely vital to healthy spirituality both for this life and for eternity. Jesus said,
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
This has a positive and negative side. Have you ever considered the positive side? If you do forgive others, you can be assured that your sins are forgiven as well! Breathe a sigh of relief all you forgiving people reading this right now! You are forgiven!
The negative side and sober warning here is that if you stubbornly hold a grudge and refuse to forgive others then you will not be forgiven your sins. (Have you never read Matthew 18:21-35?) And if you die in this condition? I shudder to think what that would mean for you.
This is why it is Christ and the angels top priority to work forgiveness in your heart while we are still alive. He is on the job! Our job is to cooperate. Be the pliable clay in the hands of the Potter.
Who do you need to forgive from your heart today? Talk with Jesus about it and work it out, You’ll be grateful you did!
Psalm 103:4 says, “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (ESV)
Need more inspiration about this issue of forgiveness? Read our previous blog on the topic! It has a list at the end of more blogs I’ve written on forgiveness.
Daniel Lovett 