Forgiveness

I took this photo as the sun began to rise above the horizon.  This scripture immediately came to my mind:

Matthew 7:13-14 – “The Narrow Way” – ¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Now click on the picture if you need to.  Do you see what I mean?  The blue sky is seemingly narrow compared to the clouds surrounding it.   It reminded me of the narrow gate that leads directly to Heaven, where eternal life is granted.

This picture and this scripture have been brought back to life for me in the past two weeks because of the multiple sermons and lessons I have encountered on forgiveness.  It seems that this is the word that God is speaking to His people at this moment in time.  He desires to provide us with clean hearts (Psalms 51:10) and new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26) enabling us to make Heaven our eternal home.  For it is God’s will that no one perishes.

John 3:16-17 – ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

I am extremely disheartened to hear that there are still people that do not know that unforgiveness can keep us out of Heaven.  I know as I write this there will be some debating that statement, for they only preach/teach the love of God.  But our God is a just judge and the ONLY one that knows every individual heart.  He will judge every intent of the heart, so it would be good for us to be mindful of our intentions in word and deed.

We must know and interpret the truth of the scriptures from the Holy Spirit, not just rely on man’s opinion.

Jesus taught in Matthew 6:14-15 – ¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

That should be enough said, no debate.

So, I have been questioned in how to forgive when the pain is so deep?  The best thing we can remember is that “hurting people hurt people”.  We must choose to forgive.  Needing to forgive someone means that you have been hurt and usually it has not been by any of your own doing.

But forgive we must.

Know this: Deep sorrow, deep pain allows the Lord to minister to us in the most special ways.  All we need to do is submit ourselves to Him.  He longs to put His arms around us to comfort us.

If you have disdain for someone, look at them through the eyes of God.  That person was made in God’s image, and they have value in His sight.  You do not know why they are acting like they do, but God does.

There are different forms of unforgiveness.  Ask yourself these questions:  Are you seeking revenge?  Do you feel hatred?  Do you slander, gossip, speak with sarcasm about the perpetrator?  Is there verbal abuse, name calling, labeling, bigotry, prejudice, racism, sexism?  Do you have bitterness rising within you?  Are you internally wishing for bad things to happen or are you praying against them?

Test your heart!  When you hear their name, what is your response?  We must inspect our hearts.  Unforgiveness is listed among the perilous times of the last days.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – ¹But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 

As I taught on forgiveness last week, someone asked if they must reconcile with their perpetrator.  Of course, that would be the best scenario in God’s eyes, but if forgiveness needs to come out of any type of abuse, the answer is no (until God says otherwise).  Let God heal your heart and gain that forgiveness within your own self.  Reconciliation may not be possible, but if it is, it will always come in God’s timing.  Forgiveness is for you, not the perpetrator.  God will guide whether the process will lead to reconciliation.

If God urges you to step towards reconciliation, John Hagee said it best, “When we take the step of faith to offer forgiveness and to seek reconciliation, we never go alone.  The Prince of Peace walks beside us and gives us the strength to do all things.  May the spirit of forgiveness be released in your life so that you are liberated from the burden that you have carried.  May the Lord Jesus Christ fill you with His grace and peace.”

Once you are free of unforgiveness, guard your heart that you can no longer be victim of this stronghold again.  It is a device that our enemy, the devil, uses to keep us bound and to try to keep us from our heavenly home.

Guard Your Heart!

Heaven will be worth it all!

POWER POINTS:

• Hurting people hurt people. Let us be the one praying for God to soften their hearts.  Ask God to fill you with His love for them.
• Love and Forgiveness go hand in hand. Love prompts forgiveness.  Forgiving from the heart is possible with God’s love.
• Do your own study in the Word of God on Forgiveness and Unforgiveness; then pray for God’s help of deliverance to be set free.