Everyone has someone that wronged or has just wronged them. Some choose to hold up and store the trespass for later use.
Others choose to let go and proceed with life as if nothing happened. The reasons, depth and gravity of the wrongs vary.
Do we forgive all wrongs? Do we forgive when we feel like? There are three groups in society namely, those that have been wronged, those that have wronged and those that have both wronged and been wronged.
Though we say we belong to the first group, the truth however is that we all, from the person deep in the occult to the very right reverend archbishop, fall into the last group.
The Bible declares that no one does right all the time. Jesus proved this when they brought a woman accused of adultery before Him.
The law demanded that she be stoned to death and Jesus allowed them to do so provided that those with clean hands did it first. None was found.
Today I want to come to your heart across all manner of divide, political, tribal, ethnic, racial, religious etc. You may have suffered the highest form of betrayal.
Your best friend snatched your boyfriend and they are now happily married, but you are still single in your 40s.
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The person that raped you and infected you with HIV and whose child you are raising is roaming the streets freely.
You may be reading this from your hospital bed because someone laced your food with poison at work or you are reading with one eye because your neighbour punched you and damaged your eye because your cattle strayed into his field.
You may have lost an arm, a leg or you are in a wheelchair because someone intentionally injured you.
You may have witnessed the cold-blooded murder of your parents or children and the perpetrators are leading the most successful companies, driving the best cars, living in plush suburbs and you are struggling to pay rent for your one-roomed shack.
Dear beloved, when your heart is pierced to the core that is when the word “forgiveness” becomes relevant.
Let us define forgiveness then apply it. The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as “to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offence or debt.”
Forgiveness is on three levels: from God, man to man and forgiving ourselves. Today I am dealing with man to man. Whether or not the laws of the land take due course, forgiveness still remains relevant. When we forgive we therefore do not wish the perpetrator bad luck or ill omens.
We start praying for their well-being. You may ask:
“Is this really possible pastor? You do not know what he/she did to me. Why did he/she do it in the first place? That will only happen over my dead body!”
I will say forgive and let go. Many people consider forgiveness as compromising their integrity. We bring more pain on ourselves than the offender did if we refuse to forgive.
We end up suffering from headaches and hypertension if we refuse to forgive. The offender and the offended remain stuck and fail to move on.
But how do we forgive when we do not feel like and we feel really hurt and devastated? Do we forgive when the offender shows that they are remorseful, throws themselves at our feet and compensates us?
Forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and His command to forgive.
Matthew 6:14-15, King James Version, reads: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Let me define life for you first. Life is a continuum between eternity offering choices between blessing and cursing; riches and poverty; heaven and hell. Where you belong is your choice and the decision is yours.
Forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision. Both you and the offender will be freed. If you lock up the offence, your life cannot move on.
When the human heart refuses to forgive, pray and ask God to help let go and bless the offender. Ask the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to soothe you. Do not pray for vengeance, leave it to God.
Summarising the Old Testament, Jesus says in Matthew 7:12, Common English Bible: “Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Where do you stand dear reader? Search yourself through Matthew 18:23-35. The answer to your breakthrough is forgiveness.
Whatever the background, just forgive. At times we simply have to be sober and do what the Bible commands us.
Stop arguing with God purporting to knock sense in His head, He is right.
