I just finished a great book in which the main character (adult) has never been able to forgive his abusive father. The bitterness he harbors affects every relationship he has. Though he hasn’t seen his father in over twenty years, he relives the painful memories often. In the end, the character is reacquainted with his elderly father who is now in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s. The father, now a gentle character totally dependent on others for everything, has no memory of his past. The main character’s compassion trumps his resentment, and the is finally able to forgive and move on.
But what about forgiving someone who hasn’t changed? Someone with whom we are no longer in contact? Or maybe someone who has died without ever apologizing? How important is it to forgive these folks?
The author of this book compares the father’s complete loss of memory to the way God totally erases our sins when we bring them to the cross. Whether God actually forgets or purposely determines not to remember our past, He gives us a clean page. A fresh start. Can we do the same? MUST we do the same?
God’s forgiveness costs us nothing, but requires we forgive everything. EVERYONE. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
A daunting truth when it sinks in, isn’t it?
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