To Err Is Human; To Forgive Divine Series

That’s why many people miss out on a relationship with God. He has sent them this wonderful love letter called the Bible to let them know their debt of sin can be cancelled, but they don’t even read it. God offers forgiveness to everyone, but reconciliation is dependent on acceptance of His grace.

6. FORGIVENESS IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE OFFENDER—IT HEALS THE ONE WHO FORGIVES

There are basically three reasons why you should forgive others: (1) Because God commands it; (2) Because God has forgiven you; and (3) Because forgiveness is good for you. People who refuse to forgive, hurt themselves. Bitter people can’t sleep. Ulcers line their stomach. Their blood pressure rises. They see the negative in every situation because their life is polluted with these feelings of resentment and anger. People who are unwilling to forgive may feel they are punishing the other person but the only person paying the price is themselves. It’s good to BE forgiven, but it’s also good to forgive. If you are harboring a grudge toward someone who has wounded you, do yourself a favor: forgive them.

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says, “If you pursue revenge, then dig two graves.” Using that analogy, maybe you need to take a trip out to the Cemetery of Forgiveness. Then make a list of all the evil, sins, faults and mistakes people have committed to you hurt you. Then dig a hole in the ground and bury those sins forever. And never dig them up again. The person who wounded you doesn’t even need to attend the funeral–go ahead and bury them. In so doing, you are setting yourself free from the misery and torment over what they have done to you.

CONCLUSION

Corrie Ten Boom was imprisoned by the Nazis during World War II because her family provided a hiding place for Jews when they were being arrested. She and her sister Betsy were sent to Ravensbruk where horrible torture, rape, and death occurred on a regular basis. Betsy died in the prison camp, but Corrie miraculously survived. She became an effective Christian author and speaker. In 1947 she was invited to speak in Munich, Germany. That evening, she spoke on the topic of forgiveness–how God buries our sins in the depths of the sea. After her talk she was approached by a man who looked familiar to her. With horror she recognized him as one of the cruelest guards at the concentration camp. She remembered the shame of walking naked in front of this very man. Suddenly all the fear and hatred returned in a flash.

He said to her, “In your talk you mentioned Ravensbruk. I was a guard there. But since that time, 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 you as well, Fraulein.” He held out his hand to Corrie and said, “Will you forgive me?”

Corrie wrote about that encounter:

“It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.