What is the worst that could happen if I withhold forgiveness? You will live miserably, harm those you love, your soul will cave in, you will contribute to the collapse of humanity and worst of all, you will fore-go the mercy of God when you will need it the most.
When it comes to forgiveness you get what you give. No one likes the sound of that. Surely God will look upon us with mercy when he feels our deep despair at the thought of being damned forever without him. Every popular book and film testifies of God’s unmatched loving kindness and mercy on the poor wayward unwashed sinner. We wrote the end of that movie with us in the lead role from the opposite perspective when the question was put before us in real life and we refused to forgive. We for whom Christ died to forgive while we were mocking sinners, withheld forgiveness to the one who disappointed with an unkind word or who failed to acknowledge proper credit to you for a job well done. The wrong done to you may have been truly horrible even justifiably un-forgiveable in the eyes of this world. But the believer is not allowed to consider anyone from a worldly view point.
2 Corinthians 5:16-14 NIV
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Oddly we still think we may use the worldly view point because the horror of this particular wrong happened to us and if “they only knew how that hurt” exceptions would be granted. We’ve been handed unbounded life giving wisdom from heaven by the Son of God as a gift of our new nature but we are certain that we are better off figuring things out on our own.
Two Kinds of Wisdom from James 3:13-19 NIV
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Forgive Fast – Run from earthly wisdom and carnal viewpoints – Make peace
Speak Your Mind