To those of us who are blood-bought children of God there are many bedrock truths of our faith. We have them and exercise in them by our faith and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I think all of us will admit that all of these truths are above our ability. In fact we cannot live them out in the power of the flesh. We must tap into the life of Christ within us for them to be evident to the world around us. Forgiveness is one of those bedrock truths that we struggle with. Because when someone has wronged us we want justice rather than mercy. Then the Holy Spirit reminds us that WE have received mercy rather than justice.Then we can move into forgiveness and see the results of true forgiveness and marvel and wonder why it has been so long in coming. The unbinding that accompanies a forgiving spirit is priceless. I happen to believe that the Lord Jesus wants us to be unbound in our walk with Him. By withholding forgiveness we continue to be bound by it. At times we let the negative thoughts and emotions ruin our day or week or even longer. If we stay there too long we might start listening to the voice of the accuser as he tries to drive a wedge between us and God and the one we need to forgive. When we do chose to forgive the unbinding we feel is indescribable. Forgiveness doesn't make the news. When those who have been at odds or worse forgive one another the world barely notices. We don't often see pictures of people forgiving one another and getting on with life.
In the picture above that is exactly what we see. This photo was taken a couple of years ago in Rwanda. The man on the right is my friend Charles. The man in the center is Jean Paul, one of Charles neighbors from his village, holding the sticks he is using for crutches. Charles is a survivor the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Jean Paul is one of the men who took part in the killing in those dark days. It is estimated that there were between 800,000 and a million people killed from April to July 1994. Charles lost around sixty of his family members including his father, sister, and, a brother. The day this photo was taken Charles and I had gone out to the village to check on a small plot of coffee we have growing there. As we where leaving Jean Paul and his wife,also pictured, came walking by. He had been hit by a pick up truck and had suffered several broken bones. He had surgery and had been in the hospital and was just now starting to get around. Charles heard that his neighbor had an outstanding balance for his medical expenses. So from the small profit from the coffee that year Charles cleared the balance for Jean Paul. You are looking a a picture of the Grace of God and the forgiveness that only comes from knowing Jesus and the Hesed (lovingkindness) that flows from Him. From the man who lost family and was nearly killed himself, forgiveness to the man who participated in the killing. All in an attempt to show his neighbor the love of Christ and the gospel of peace.
The apostle Paul said in his defense before Agrippa in Acts 26: 15-18 (please read after reading this) look at v.18. Jesus speaking, "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." If we have these things ,forgiveness of sins, and a Place among the sanctified by faith in Jesus, then we have no excuse for withholding forgiveness. He is our destination! ( Scripture reference E S V. )
No comments:
Post a Comment