Changing the World with Real Forgiveness

Today’s world has a real eerie feeling. It’s called hate and it’s growing rapidly. How has hate grown so rapidly? Unforgiveness has entered into the hearts of many. Some just don’t recognize that’s what has happened. Here’s how they don’t recognize it. People really want to show how much they hate the sin that’s taking place, but it comes out sounding more like they hate the person rather than the sin itself. How is this shown? It’s by the words we choose, facial expressions used, and the overall attitude towards someone. We have to consider and understand what others might be seeing or hearing right along with those expressions used and the attitude that is showing up towards that person instead of being towards the sin. Granted, some just flat out don’t care if they show hate.

How do we get rid of this hate and bring back forgiveness? It may be difficult. We have to let go of all those hateful things people have said and done by giving it all to Jesus. That is our only positive answer that will get real results.

Yes, forgiveness can be a very difficult under any circumstance. No, we shouldn’t always forget because this helps us to protect ourselves, but we’re still truly to forgive. Now, forgiving can be hard for some yet easy for others. Either way, we need to turn it over to Jesus. We have to remember forgiveness and repentance allows someone to turn over their sinful life to Jesus to be redeemed no matter how awful the sin is. It’s time to set the example of removing wrongful hate and being more kind and forgiving. Then spread this example everywhere we can.

No, I am not trying to make this a New Year’s resolution. I have learned all a New Year’s resolution becomes is a ritual in general. We need to understand forgiveness is a command and it’s the duty of a Christian to show what forgiveness is and how to remove the hate, so forgiveness can take place between the people involved.

Here’s something we don’t look at. There are people who are trying to make a change or do what is best, but are going about it the wrong way. I’m sure we’ve all been there. I have. When I make a decision on what I think is best for me and my family sometimes it backfires so bad that, at times, I think it can’t be fixed. The truth of the matter is that when I go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart, circumstances will begin to change. Let’s open up with forgiveness and repentance in our hearts to open those doors for healing to take place. It may not happen overnight, because we may have to work out some issues within us, but eventually it will happen. So yes, for those who realize they have made a mistake, all they need to do is go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness and repent from their sin and be true about it.

I want to mention David the King of Israel. Before, I talk about Jesus setting the ultimate example. Many want to talk about David’s sins, but they only want to look at it from one view point that David was already a man after God’s own heart and was the King of Israel.

Still, David stepped out of line and it cost David a lot of trouble until he repented. Once David repented, in due time, his circumstances turned around. I feel we need to give people the same respect that was given to David, after all,  Jesus is calling for those who are lost and walking in the wrong direction to come and repent so they can be forgiven. Matthew 4:17 says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Let’s now talk about Jesus setting the ultimate example. Jesus was up there on that cross asking the Father to forgive us.  Luke 23:24 says, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his  raiment, and cast lots.”

Think about this for a moment. Jesus took on sin and replaced it with God’s grace and mercy, so we could be forgiven from all the sins we committed. This forgiveness came with bloodshed and that’s why in the title I have forgiveness in red. That’s right, Jesus was whipped, beaten, speared in the side, given vinegar, and his hands and feet were nailed to the cross. Keep this in mind Jesus was so badly abused He wasn’t even recognizable.

Now, do we realize what the Father actually did when Jesus asked Him to forgive us? He forgave us. How do I know? 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I believe God’s wrath would have been poured out right then and there if he hadn’t.  Remember, Jesus didn’t do anything wrong. He had to take on our sins to redeem us. You know what else this proves? Jesus does have real forgiveness and followed through with his own command. Jesus kept his own word on what forgiveness is all about while on the cross. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

When you look at this spiritually, Jesus kept the doors open between Him and the Father so that he could be accepted as the ultimate sacrifice to save us from the pits of hell. You have to understand we can close the doors to our connection with the Father when we don’t work forgiveness like we should. Don’t get upset with me about this. Jesus is the one who showed this truth clearly. Forgiving keeps the door open to the Father. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25

Here’s another interesting fact about forgiveness. We have to have a clean heart as well. What a demonstration Jesus showed us while walking with his disciples and teaching others all the way to being put on the cross. Like I have mentioned earlier this may not be easy, but it will be worth it in the long run. I don’t know about you, but I feel so lost when my communication to the Father becomes broken. There is no better time than now to get our communication back with the Father considering all that is going on in this world today. I also know it’s not easy to do when we’re facing trials and tribulations. I have been facing some this past month. My objective is to get to that place where my communication isn’t broken with the Father. So, yes I’m going to do whatever it takes to have a clean heart to be able to forgive who I need to forgive and that can even be with the Lord when he didn’t have anything to do with it.

When you can’t forgive; ask for a clean heart. 10) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 12) Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11.

Sometimes, we don’t think of these things happening inside the church but that’s not true. The commandment to forgive and be kind includes what’s being said and done inside the walls of the church as well. I know this from a  personal experience. I was going to a church where the Pastor was trying to make it clear that he wouldn’t support a certain politician, he didn’t mention the name, because of the sins he was tying his self to. Then all the sudden the members of this church began to shrink. The Pastor didn’t understand why.  All the Pastor knew was that it was important to stand up for the truth and to not support sin. This isn’t wrong but if we don’t give room for love and kindness, nobody wins. Today, we see a form of this; it’s called being unapologetic. Here’s why the church started losing its members. This Pastor took a position that even if this politician wanted to change his ways and repent, that he still wouldn’t let that person come into his church.

I kept praying for this Pastor and finally, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to talk to this Pastor to help him see what he was doing. When I shared this with him, he received the word. We hugged each other. It brought tears to this Pastor’s eyes thinking how much he damaged his own ministry by not walking in love and forgiveness to everybody. His church flourished again.

Here’s another picture of Jesus’ truth taking action concerning keeping the doors open for the lost. Forgiving keeps the door open to the Father.  Luke 15:4-7 says, 4) “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5) And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6) And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Paul also gave us a good definition in Ephesians 4:31-32 of what it takes to forgive, so we can be forgiven. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

---