THE TRUE ACT OF FORGIVING

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 a
nd on.
Lets look into this by using three persons, three different scenarios, three di
fferent lives. This is only an example so that we might have a better understand
ing of the true act of forgiving. Lets start with someone who has always been an
gry and bitter in his immediate surroundings. Perhaps this person lived or is li
ving a very lonely life, due to the reasons of misfortunes in their lives, 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 and now live a very bitter l
ife. Now, lets consider a person who comes from a wealthy family, whose parents
were never there for that person. Yet that person had everything they ever wante
d, nothing needed that money can buy, all except love, and eventually grew up wi
th the mentality that they do not need anyone in their lives. At the same time s
till felt very lonely, and had a very serious case of self pity, with no remorse
of rejecting all who came close to him. Last but not least, lets look at a pers
on who was a good, well mannered, and respectable man throughout his life. He wa
s brought up with admonishing parents who feared GOD, also never really cared mu
ch about material things of this world. Never really mingled much with the outsi
de world, other than who he was taught to relate with. Where he saw misery, he w
as very caring, compassionate, and sympathetic towards the next person, who is i
n need of help, in one way or another. Yet, often times found himself to be take
n advantage of to the point of frustration.
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 bitte
r person, or wealthy person, or maybe the well behaved person. Neither, if you d
on’t have our Lord in your heart, that person is not going have the true act of
forgiving.
If we are to look at the true act of forgiving, we need to take a very long look
at GOD and his merciful, and forgiving heart. Throughout the centuries our Heav
enly Father forgave the people of his choice, and that is the people that are de
scendant’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 forg
ive them (Ex.34:6-9). Being called stiffnecked people, and by the pleas of Moses
towards the Israelites, and by the prayer of one man for all, they were forgive
n. (Ps.103:8) The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in
mercy. (Ps.86:15) But thou, O Lord, art a GOD full of compassion, and gracious,
long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Jer.32:18) Thou show lovingk
indness 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. These are only a few to mention of the many times that GOD forgave the
Israelites for many transgressions. Although, he being very gracious, and merci
ful; transcending all transgressions after so much has been done before his sigh
t, 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 d
ark ages, I may be mistaken, but between the last prophet Malachi of the old tes
tament and John the Baptist was a period of four-hundred years in the absences o
f GOD, it may as well be considered the dark ages. In the time that John the Bap
tist and our lord and savior Jesus Christ were born into this world, GOD saddene
d with the cries and morns of his people decided to show more than just his merc
y, and to forgive all (Jo.3:16) For GOD so loved the world, that he gave his onl
y begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everl
asting life. Unlike, with GOD and our Lord Jesus Christ there has never been see
n of such forgiveness given by no one at all. This is the true act of forgiving
that’s from our heavenly Father, and is the one and only act that we as children
of GOD should express as well to all, especially to the brotherhood. There is n
o forgiveness like GOD’S, as King David realized it as well (Ps.78:38) But he, b
eing full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, ma
ny 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 we
re 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, and our Heavenly Father, that
we are just as forgiving, and truthfully hold no grudges, nudges, or some kind o
f little hidden failure deep in our heart. One human that we can look on is Jose
ph and his brothers (Gen.51:17) So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray the
e 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 f
ather. And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him. Throughout the entire gospel th
ere 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 forgiving. (Ep.4:32) And be ye kind o
ne 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. It is very unde
rstandable that we that belong to GOD are equal in every aspect of our Christian
lives, and there should not be any form of schism between us that is the body o
f Christ.
(1Cor.12:25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members sh
ould have the same care one for another. With this being said there should not b
e any kind of division, segregation, 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 Savi
or Jesus Christ.
The greatest act was, and is done by GOD himself we know this because we are in
his Spiritual realm as his dear children, again (Jo.3:16,17) For GOD so loved th
e world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him sho
uld not perish, but have everlasting life. For GOD sent not his Son into the wor
ld 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 th
is is the true act of forgiving, we as children of GOD must apply this mentality
in our lives, it would truly be very much easier for us to forgive one another,
as well as others of this world, than to live in ruin full of hatred and animos
ity with each other as well as everyone in this world, its even written in the s
criptures just how bad its gotten (Ro12:16-21). The gospel also tell us that man
y times there is any kind of wrong that has occurred, why bother with the things
of this world and take the wrong instead (1Co6:1-12). To relate, the key to hav
ing a forgiving heart is to have the same Love that comes from our Heavenly Fath
er and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s the Love that binds us, it’s the L
ove that keeps us safe, it’s the Love that refreshes us, it’s the Love that help
s 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 th
is 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. It really does not
make any difference when we speak of Love because this where it all begins, in
allowing the Love of GOD to fill up our hearts in order to have the true act of
forgiving. Lets look at the basics of forgiveness, if GOD forgave you why not fo
rgive, and if we forgive one another why not forgive one another, and if he forg
ave you why not forgive him as well [I’m speaking of any one of this world], and
if they can forgive each other why not forgive the rest. Its not hard to forgiv
e, but perhaps its hard to forget and this is where it is wrong, because to forg
et is to forgive. Why, because there is no more hate, jealousy, animosity, or an
y form of indifference of any kind. If there should be any passage to consider,
consider the passage of Love in (1Co.13). If I’ve done wrong to anyone please fo
rgive me.
May our Heavenly Father grant us this powerful Love, so that we too can be stron
g in the true act of forgiving. GOD bless all.