The true act of forgiveness

How hard is it to really forgive someone or anyone who has done something wrong, whether accidental, or deliberate? Well, for most people its one of the hardest thing to do, perhaps that’s why the true act of forgiving is not practiced, and there so many violent crimes, divorces, wars in this world, and I could go on and on.

Lets look into this by using three persons, three different scenarios, three different lives. This is only an example so that we might have a better understanding of the true act of forgiving.

Lets start with someone who has always been angry and bitter in his immediate surroundings and their entire life. Perhaps this person lived or is living a very lonely life, due to the reasons of misfortunes, and they may have been mentally or physically abused, and maybe never really had someone in their lives that showed or gave any form of love throughout their entire life; and now live a very bitter life pushing everyone away. Now, lets consider a person who comes from a wealthy family; in which their parents bought their love with material thing, because their parents were never there at all, so, they eventually rely on themselves. Yet, this person always had everything they ever wanted, nothing needed at all that money can buy. All except true love, honest love and warm love, which never existed, and eventually grew up with the mentality that they do not need anyone in their lives. At the same time still felt very lonely, and had a very serious case of self pity, with no remorse of rejecting all who came close to whoever this is.

Last but not least, lets look at a person who was a good, well mannered, and respectable man throughout his life. He was brought up with admonishing parents who feared God, also never really cared much about the material things of this world. One who never really mingled much with the outside world, other than who he was taught to relate with. Where he saw misery, he was very caring, compassionate, and sympathetic towards the next person, who is in need of help, in one way or another. Yet, often times finds himself to be taken advantage of to the point of frustration; and would eventually see himself with a doubt of calming relief.

Now the question is who would be the one to act in forgiveness at any give time of wrong doing that may have occurred to them at one point or another? The bitter person, or wealthy person, or maybe the well behaved person. Neither, if you don’t have the love of our Lord in your heart, that person is not going have the true act of forgiveness in the norm.

If we are to look at the true act of forgiveness, we need to take a very long look at God and his merciful, longsuffering, forbearance, and forgiving heart. Throughout the centuries our Heavenly Father forgave the people of his choice, and that is the people that are descendant’s of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which are known as the Israelites. Many times they turned their back on God, and God so full of mercy would always forgive them (Ex.34:6-9). Being called stiff-necked people, and by the pleas of Moses towards the Israelites, and by the prayer of one man for all, they were forgiven: this also applies to all His children(Jam.5:15)(1Jo.1:9). Here are several other examples of passages of how our Lord enacts with His own. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy(Ps103:8). (Ps.86:15) But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth(Ps.86:15). Thou show loving-kindness unto thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the father into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name(Jeremiah32:18).

These are only a few examples to mention of the many times that God forgave the Israelites for many transgressions and their backsliding. Although, he being very gracious, and merciful; transcending all transgressions after so much has been done before his sight, and after so many years passing by there was a time of absence from God with all human beings. That it may have been in the time when it was considered the dark ages, I may be mistaken, but between the last prophet Malachi of the old testament and John the Baptist was a period of four-hundred years in the absences of God, it may as well be considered the dark ages. In the time that John the Baptist and our lord and savior Jesus Christ were born into this world, God saddened with the cries and morns of his people decided to show more than just his mercy, and to forgive all giving His son to the wretched world.

(Jo.3:16)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Unlike, with God and our Lord Jesus Christ there has never been seen of such forgiveness given by no one at all. This is the true act of forgiveness that only comes from our heavenly Father, and is the one act that we as children of God should express as well to all humans; regardless of who they are: this can be seen in the book of John during Jesus Christ’s ministry when he was being tempted to falsely accuse; concerning a matter of an adulteress woman who was caught in the act, yet, Jesus did not condemn her and forgave her and commanded her to sin no more(Jo.8:3-11), and this is the true act of forgiveness, and this needs to be done especially to the brotherhood.

There is no forgiveness like God‘s, just as King David realized it as well when God held back His wrath against Israel. (Ps.78:38)But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. If we were to look at the entire picture and truly absorb all his righteousness, perhaps we too could be as he is, truthfully merciful and forgiving. If the whole world were to be as he is, how pleasant would it be to live in this world, one can only imagine?

Can we really say without lying to ourselves, that we are as our Heavenly Father, and that we are just as forgiving, and truthfully hold no grudges, nudges, or some kind of little hidden failure deep in our heart? Another example of a righteous man that we can look upon is Joseph; and how would eventually forgive his brothers. (Gen.51:17) So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brother’s and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.

Throughout the entire gospel there are many examples that we can use for our edification, and exhortation, so, that we too can apply the same forgiving heart in our lives, and above all it is required of us to act, in the true act of forgiveness. (Ep.4:32)And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake has forgiven you. (Col.3:13)Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

This is very understandable that we; that belong to God as true worshippers are equal in every aspect of our Christian lives as becoming brothers in Christ, and there should not be any form of schism between us: as we are a part of the body of Christ. (1Cor.12:25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. With this being said there shouldn’t be any kind of division, secular attitude, segregation of any origin, no prejudice attitudes, no bias conflicts, no hatred, nothing that belongs to this world, because we are not of this world, and we are supposed to be as one with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, it brings me back to the same notion of what was the greatest act, and who done it: God himself. I mentioned it earlier, but apart from this we know this, or rather should know this; because we are in his Spiritual realm as His dear children, and I‘, speaking of His glorious kingdom, so, therefore again we can read the same passage that clarifies and states the true act of forgiveness, (Jo.3:16,17)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If this is not to be sought as a forgiving act then what is? As well as we know that this is the true act of forgiveness, so, we therefore as children of God must apply this mentality in our lives, it would truly be very much easier for us just to forgive one another than to live in bitterness among the bother-hood. As for this act it would be even easier to apply this very act to others of this world, than to live in ruin full of hatred and animosity with each other just as everyone is in this world, its even written in the scriptures just how we must apply this act among all men; whether of they all this world, or within the realm of the brotherhood in our Christian lives (Ro12:16-21). The gospel also tell us that at any given time there is any kind of wrong that has occurred with anyone handle the matter rightfully, so, why bother with the things of this world; and mingle therewith, and try to avoid any conflicts, or doubtful disputations, but rather take the wrong instead(1Co6:1-12).

To relate, the key to having a forgiving heart is to have the same Love that comes from our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; full of compassion and mercy. It’s the Love that binds us, it’s the Love that keeps us safe, it’s the Love that refreshes us, it’s the Love that helps us forget the wrongs, it’s the Love that teaches us to Love, and its also the Love that teaches us to forgive, and above all it’s the Love that God sent to this world, Jesus Christ. I know, that the subject of Love is in a different lesson of itself, in which it could be brought up at in given time, but it really does not make any difference when we speak of Love; because this is where it all begins. In allowing the Love of God to fill up in our hearts in order to have the true act of forgiveness. Lets look at the basics of forgiveness, if God forgave you for being wretched; why not forgive others as well, and if we forgave one another lets always forgive one another, and if he forgave you why not forgive him as well [I’m speaking of any one that is of this world], and if they can forgive each other why not forgive the rest. Its not hard to forgive, but perhaps its hard to forget, and this is where it is wrong: all are found guilty; because to forget is to forgive, and to forget is to be forgiven. Why?; because there should be no more hate, jealousy, animosity, or any form of in differences of any kind that would stop us from forgiving. I truly believe that holding grudges, or have a heart can, and is a heavy burden that no one needs to carry around.

If there should be any passages to consider, consider the passages of Love in (1Co.13). Rather than to live a life of depraving yourself of God’s forgiveness; lets always apply the true act of Forgiveness in our lives, and be happy for once and for all for conscience sake.

May our Heavenly Father grant us this powerful Love, so that we too can be strong in the true act of forgiveness, so, that we can really live a peaceful life in the glorious realm of our Heavenly Father. God bless all!