Why Forgive?

Just as acid first affects the recipient it is held in, the same way an unforgiving heart harms herself first of all. Forgiving is an issue that belongs to the chapter "easier said than done"; yet, it becomes reality when God gives help and strength to forgive. C. S. Lewis said :"We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it." Yes, it takes a lot of power to forgive! Forgiveness is for the strong, not for the weak, one must have character to be able to realize how burdensome holding hatred inside can be.

Nevertheless there are situations that entitle people (or at least it seems so) to hate the others. If you think about it, there are countless circumstances where the evil is so mischievously woven and the innocent victims fall in this horrible death trap. Take for instance the Twin Towers back in 2001; how can a parent forgive the ones who took the life of his/her son or daughter just like that, with no apparent reason?

My aunt had a 31 years old son, he has been killed, stabbed with a knife during his work hours, he was a guardian. The killer has been caught, sentenced according to his deed. Only if you are a parent and have been through a similar situation, you have an idea of the dreadful pain in a parent’s heart in such moments. How could she not hate the one who did it? She had all the reasons to! Now picture this, she goes to his cell, to see her son’s murderer and tells him: "You are forgiven, I forgive you because of Jesus Christ." Wow…I just don’t know how she had the power to do this … later on, I understood, it is only God that gives the power you need, exactly when you need it. She let the love of God fill her heart instead of letting her heart filled with hatred towards the man who deserved it fully. It is amazing! I hope that none of us have to go through such things, yet people like this woman are strong indeed.

If you had the chance to ask Jesus about forgiveness, what would your question have been? Peter, one of His disciples raises the question:

"Peter came up to the Lord and asked, "How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?" Jesus answered:

Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like: One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him. As he was doing this, one official was brought in who owed him fifty million silver coins. But he didn't have any money to pay what he owed. The king ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all he owned, in order to pay the debt.

The official got down on his knees and began begging, "Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I owe!" The king felt sorry for him and let him go free. He even told the official that he did not have to pay back the money.

As the official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him a hundred silver coins. So he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, "Pay me what you owe!"

The man got down on his knees and began begging, "Have pity on me, and I will pay you back." But the first official refused to have pity. Instead, he went and had the other official put in jail until he could pay what he owed.

When some other officials found out what had happened, they felt sorry for the man who had been put in jail. Then they told the king what had happened.

The king called the first official back in and said, "You're an evil man! When you begged for mercy, I said you did not have to pay back a cent. Don't you think you should show pity to someone else, as I did to you?" The king was so angry that he ordered the official to be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed. That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don't forgive each of my followers with all your heart." Matthew 18:21-35

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14,15

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." Luke 6:37

"Bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive." Colossians 3:13

"If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

What a great God! He will forgive you ALL your sins, not just in part. Yes, God is the author of forgiveness and reconciliation. He has a solution for every problem, a solution you have never even dared to dream of! Talk to Him, ask Him to tell you, wait for His answer and you will see it!

In the meantime may we all have the strength to forgive every single day, as we have been forgiven by God…every single day; waiting patiently for the sweet fruit of forgiveness. Its root might be bitter, but the fruit is sweet.