HoHum:
Not far from New York City there is a cemetery where there is a grave which has inscribed upon the headstone just one word- “Forgiven” There is no name, no date of birth or death. The stone is undecorated. Just one word- “Forgiven”, but that is the greatest thing that can be said of any person or written on a grave.
WBTU:
If given 6 months or less to live, a big issue is forgiveness
What is forgiveness? The word “forgive” is found 133 times in the NIV. The Greek root for “forgive” is grace. Jack Cottrell observes, “Whenever the Bible speaks of forgiveness, it is speaking of grace.” Grace is getting the opposite of what we deserve.
What does forgiveness mean to the terminally ill? Our social relationships give life meaning. Expressing love in final moments becomes a top priority. We cannot genuinely express love to someone against whom we harbor resentment. We must forgive and then express our love.
Thesis: Need forgiveness in 4 areas
For instances:
Forgiveness of sins
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38, NIV.
Corrie Ten Boom survived the harsh treatment in the Ravensbruck concentration camp where so many died under the Nazis in WW2. Corrie’s sister, Betsie, died in Ravensbruck. After she survived she wrote books on her experience and went all over the world proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. After one talk many people were coming up to her and expressing their appreciation. In this group of people Corrie saw him coming toward her. She wrote, “The man who was making his way forward had been a guard- one of the most cruel guards. Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’ And I, who had spoken so warmly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course- how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women? But I remembered him. I was face to face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze. ‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying. ‘I was a guard there.” No, he did not remember me. ‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well, Fraulein,’ again the hand came out- ‘will you forgive me?’ And I stood there- I whose sins had again and again been forgiven- and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place. Could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could have been many seconds that he stood there- hand held out- but it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘Jesus, help me!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling Jesus.’ And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust out my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, brining tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then. But even then, I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of God.”
Forgiveness sought and received from others
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13, NIV.
Remember one patient who told me about her struggles as a woman. Her first husband was a preacher but he left her for another lover. After this, she tried to find love with various men. She moved her son and daughter down south to be with a man. This man was abusive and was also involved in organized crime. Finally the patient had enough of the abuse and moved back to the midwest. This man and his associates, the mafia, were on the lookout for her and her family so they had to live undercover. During this time, the patient got a job and had to leave her son and daughter alone. The son was her oldest child and the mother told her son never to leave her sister. One day, the daughter was shopping and her brother became bored and went off with some friends. Coming out of the store, this young lady was abducted and raped. Amazingly, they let her go but the guilt of the mother remained. A few days before she died, my patient, this mother, confessed her involvement with the individuals who raped her daughter. The daughter had no idea of her mother’s involvement with these individuals but forgiveness was given and they were able to talk of this incident and let it go. As the patient lay unconscious the day before she died, the daughter told me of the confession and of her mother being able to lay this burden down. Difficult situation but think of the many years of regret and guilt this mother had to endure. Confess it now, seek forgiveness now. Not be easy but better than living with guilt and shame. The daughter could have held this against her mother. However, she did what the Scriptures said. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14, 15, NIV.
Had a professor who tried to explain away these verses because of assurance of salvation. There are people that we have not forgiven so does this mean we are bound for hell. Hard to explain but those who do not forgive face a lot of troubles in this life, spiritually, mentally, physically.
Forgiveness to myself
The inspiration from this point comes from Tuesdays with Morrie, a book written by Mitch Albom. This is a book about a young man reconnecting with his old sociology professor who is dying from ALS. They meet every Tuesday until the day Morrie, the old professor, dies. Morrie calls these meetings his last thesis and the young student jots down everything he can from his professors last words. Great book, not necessarily from a Christian perspective, but it made me think. The twelfth Tuesday made me think the most where they talk about forgiveness. Morrie begins by telling a story about someone he failed to forgive and then begins anew. “It’s not just other people we need to forgive. We also need to forgive ourselves.” “Ourselves?” asks Mitch, the student. “Yes. For all the things we didn’t do. All the things we should have done. You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened. That doesn’t help you when you get to where I am. I always wished I had done more with my work; I wished I had written more books. I used to beat myself up over it. Now I see that never did any good. Make peace. You need to make peace with yourself and everyone around you. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Don’t wait, Mitch. Not everyone gets the time I’m getting.”
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1, NIV.
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism” Acts 10:34, NIV. God forgives when we accept Jesus Christ, no matter what we have done or left undone. God does not choose to forgive one person and not another.
“the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34, NIV. If God chooses not to remember, why should we?
Forgiveness against God
God has done no wrong that we need to forgive him. However, all of us have gone through things and have wondered why God allowed this to happen. God, by definition, is unlimited in power and knowledge. He sees injustices and extreme suffering happening every day, and appears to do nothing. This might cause us to be bitter and upset with God.
Why do we need to forgive God and let God off the hook? Because of what it will do for us. We must forgive those who have hurt us, and we must forgive God who lets hurtful things happen to us. We experience peace when we forgive or are forgiven. In much the same way we have peace when we forgive God. “I pour out my complaint before him (Lord)” Psalms 142:2, NIV.
“Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counsellor?” Isaiah 40:13
We’ll Understand It Better By and By written by Charles Tindley- Charles preached at a growing church and they needed a new building to hold all wanting to come. Charles’s wife, Daisy, died on the very day the congregation entered the new building for the first time. Charles struggled with his wife’s death, but later said, “one day I will understand it better by and by.”
Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand all the way of God would lead us to that blessed promised land; but he guides us with his eye, and we’ll follow till we die, for we’ll understand it better by and by.
Chorus- By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story of how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by
So what?
Have we ever postponed mending a relationship because we think we still have time? Many a child has waited to make amends with a parent only to have that parent die before they could have that conversation.
Many believe that they have plenty of time to make things right with God. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.
