Forgiven!

David said it with an exclamation: “Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Ps.32:1)

In another of his Psalms of praise, the sweet singer of Israel reminds us that God is one “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” (Ps.103:3) In fact, David continued, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps.103:12).  That makes Paul’s New Testament admonition much more doable: “And be ye kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph.4:32)

Isn’t it sad that people, sometimes even those who claim to be recipients of God’s saving grace, live a lifetime without forgiving some old offense against them? As a young college student, studying for ministry, I was asked to preach one Sunday in a little country church close to the town where I was born. God led me to preach from Matthew 5 about leaving the altar where you are worshipping and going to make restoration, or to ask forgiveness, from a brother who has “ought against thee.” (Matt.5:24). Jesus tells His disciples that one should leave his gift before the altar and go and make restoration with the offended brother quickly. I found out some time later that two older women in that small congregation, sisters, had not spoken to each other for years. To my knowledge, they died never having made things right with each other. Had I known that fact before I preached from that text, as a college sophomore preacher boy, I am sure I could not have delivered that message. But I am just as certain that God put that text upon my heart that day. It is almost beyond belief that two people can live and die holding grudges against each other for years.

Jesus gave no comfort to anyone who held a grudge and had not forgiven an offender. When Peter asked his Master if one should forgive an offender “seven times,” Jesus must have startled him with His answer: “I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but until seventy times seven.” (Matt. 18:21,22) And, after a pertinent parable about the kingdom of heaven, Jesus concluded this discussion with a sobering thought: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.” (Matt. 18:35) The “so likewise” referred to a man who, having been forgiven a huge debt, showed no compassion on the person who owed him a comparably small amount—and even demanded the poor debtor be thrown into prison. Jesus said that those guilty of that kind of unforgiving spirit were liable to be “thrown to the tormentors.”  It is not a matter to trifle with, this matter of an unforgiving spirit.

Augustine, before he was saved, had been a profligate rebel against God; on his death bed, he had Psalm 32 written on the wall opposite his bed. The Psalm begins with, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

“Not far from New York is a cemetery lone, close guarding its grave stands a simple headstone, And all the inscription is one word alone: FORGIVEN.

No sculptor’s fine art hath embellished its form, but constantly there, through the calm and the storm, it beareth this word from a poor, fallen worm: FORGIVEN.

The death is unmentioned, the name is untold; beneath lies the body, corrupted and cold; Above rests his spirit, at home in the fold—FORGIVEN!

And when, from the heavens, the Lord shall descend, this stranger shall rise and to glory ascend,

Well known and befriended to sing without end, FORGIVEN!” (Unknown)

A little boy was visiting his grandparents’ farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods and, though having practiced quite a bit, was never able to hit the target. Heading back for dinner, and seeing Grandma’s pet duck, he let fly the slingshot and hit the duck square in the head, killing it. He was shocked and grieved, and in a panic hid the duck in a woodpile, only to see that his sister, Sally, was watching and had seen the whole thing!

After lunch the next day, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.” Then she whispered to Johnny, “Remember the duck.” So, Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper.” But Sally just smiled and said, “That’s all right, Johnny told me he wanted to help.” Then she whispered again in her brother’s ear, “Remember the duck.” After a couple of days of this, Johnny had about all he could take of it and confessed to his grandma that he had killed her pet duck. Grandma knelt beside him and gave him a hug and said, “That’s all right, sweetheart. You see, I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing; but, because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

Thought for the day: “Whatever your past, whatever you have done…and the Devil keeps throwing it up to you (lying, cheating, stealing, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness)…whatever it is…you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.” (copied)

“…Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:9)