Forgive – Forget – Freedom!

I believe the most difficult command for the average Christian to perform is the command that is central to Christianity. The command? Forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. It is especially difficult to think of the bad things endured at the hands of others and then to blandly issue unconditional forgiveness. Perhaps a spouse had an affair; someone spread vicious lies or rumors about you, stole from you, made fun of you, a parent or relative abused you, or you have been otherwise mistreated at the hands of another.

We have all had these experiences and know of people that we can think of right now that fit into one of the scenarios listed or worse. Often these people are hated and despised for a lifetime and their foul deeds are relived over and over again in our minds making the event similar to a festering wound. Forgiveness is often out of the question and when asked about it, the reply is, “You don’t know what that person did to me?”

Fortunately for all of humanity, God does not think in such a manner. According to the Bible all of us have sinned and those sins are bad enough to eternally separate us from God’s holy and pure presence. Some have sinned more than others, but even one sin is enough to exclude us from God’s presence forever. That is why Jesus came. Our sin debt was cancelled by Jesus who led a perfect life free from sin when He was crucified and died on a cross and three days later resurrected. He is willing to forgive any and all sin and He has already paid the debt for it on the cross, provided we only believe and follow His commands.

One of those commands is that we forgive one another as He forgave us. We do not deserve it, but He forgives us anyway. I have forgiven people who have wronged me that I am sure in my heart did not deserve it, appreciate it, or even want my forgiveness, and who to this very day either think they haven’t done anything wrong, or they do not regret what they did to me and did it deliberately and coldly and could care less what I think about it. One might think that it is impossible to forgive someone like that, but actually it is easier than you think, especially when we keep in mind forgiveness is really more about “US” than someone else. It is about following the commands of Jesus Christ.

I always feel a great sense of relief when I truly forgive someone. It allows me freedom to forget about the past and look to the future without excess baggage. The other person may or may not change and certainly we cannot change the past and undo the wrong levied against us; however our mind will change and instead of thinking dark things we can concentrate on bright things. I will never be bosom buddies with some of these people, but I have cancelled the debt with them. It is similar to them owing me money and me just tearing up the note and I no longer care about it one way or the other, not even one whit. They do not owe me anything from that point forward and I look at them differently or with indifference, but I do not harbor resentment. This releases my mind from the worry of it all.

Harboring hard feelings for others is “YOUR” sin regardless if they did you wrong. Sin always has a consequence and it will be “you” paying it and not the other party. You will grit your teeth and wear them down; you will spend the sleepless nights mad, frustrated, plotting and fretting; you will get the ulcers and be unhappy and miserable and will think of dark unhappy thoughts and often the other party will go their merry way oblivious to your situation.

Forgive – forget freedom!

Matt. 6:14
For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men
their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.