Many people view Heaven as a place where only the best, most perfect people live. They believe Heaven will be all the more perfect because any wicked people will be burning up in Hell.
Those who anticipate living in Heaven, of course, believe they are not wicked. They may have a few flaws, but overall, they judge themselves not bad enough to go to hell.
And it seems very important to some Heaven bound people to believe some people they know will be going to Hell. They may have already personally ordered them to go there.
So it bothers them to think God might somehow give wicked people a pass. It does not seem fair!
Stop for a moment and review the people you have known, do know or know about. Are you at peace with God being able to forgive them of all wrongs and clean them up and redeem them for Heaven?
Do you regularly pray that for your enemies?
What does God say about the wicked?
“As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways.”
Ezekiel 33:11
That is …
“God our Savior, who desires ALL people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:4
We have our hope set on The Living God, Who is The Savior of ALL people …
1 Timothy 4:10
Paul concluded,
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from The Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
So since God wants everyone to be saved, shouldn’t we be praying for and desiring that too?
Instead of judging and sentencing and waiting for God to carry out the execution, we should be praying for our enemies … in fact, for all people … and looking forward to seeing them after God cleans them up.
And less we think too highly of ourselves, remember what else Jesus said,
“Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
John 8:7
Paul spoke a truth when he said,
“All have sinned and fall short of The Glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
God’s going to need to clean us all up before we can enter heaven!
Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
Matthew 7:1
As I have gotten older, my tolerance has expanded. I still believe some things are right and some things are wrong. But I am more open to trying to understand why people believe or behave as they do.
I am interested in seeing what beliefs are beneath the behavior they are expressing out front.
Many people do what they do because they want to be seen … noticed … simply matter … be remembered.
Besides looking at victims of violence, I also look at perpetrators of violence and try to understand how they came to be perpetrators.
I look at the sins of other people and sadly feel a kinship with them. I may not have acted on my feelings yet, but I often was tempted in the same way.
Sometimes I realize I have sinned in the same way. I am not so quick to condemn.
I understand.
I have discovered I was wrong about some things I once passionately believed. Therefore, I have more patience with people who may be wrong about what they believe.
I know I was never converted by people telling me how wrong I was. I changed when they listened to me and prayed God would show me what He wanted me to see.
So in doing a self assessment recently, I felt good that I had become so non-judgemental.
Then God tapped me on the shoulder and showed me who I was still judging.
I have been amazed at some of the rhetoric that has come from Christians in recent days.
Instead of being the flavoring salt Jesus intended us to be, some have become salt to rub in wounds.
Instead of being The Light Jesus intended us to be, many have used what light they have to accuse or condemn others.
There has not been much love expressed for friends or enemies. Manyhave been pronouncing judgements left and right.
God said, “So, Carolyn, are you judging those who are judging?”
Gulp.
Yes, I am still working that one out with Him. How do we deal with this issue of knowing what’s right and wrong without getting into judgement?
We can bring any situation to God. He will even let us express our opinion to Him in His Private chambers.
But He will remind us we are not the judge. He is.
The decision of how to resolve any matter is completely God’s Call. He already has The Plan and He will carry it out in His Time and in His Way.
If we are a part of that Plan, He will tell us what to do. But in the meantime, we have to leave the judging up to Him.
And yes, that includes judging those who judge.
Let all creation rejoice before The Lord, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His Faithfulness.
As we are discussing mercy and forgiveness, you may find it most difficult to forgive one person in particular — yourself.
We learn valuable lessons in life, sometimes after we have made mistakes.
Unfortunately we often spent much way too much time deciding whose fault it was. It hurts to think it might be our fault, so we may look for someone else to blame.
If we can’t lay all the blame on them, we may try for the shared blame route. OK, I did it, but I would not have except for … he led me into it, she left me no choice, she deceived me, he gave me bad advice, etc, etc, etc.
But ultimately, it comes down to us. I did it. We may feel all alone in that pool of self pity, but look again. You’ve got company.
Satan thrives on torturing humans. He is an expert in pouring on the guilt. He has really enjoyed your humiliation, anger, attempts to blame others, but now he is licking his chops.
Like a prosecuting attorney, he makes his case for how and why you screwed up. He calls you names. He reminds you of every past failure. God may forget your sins, but it seems satan never does. He tells you that you are a total failure and you will never change.
He tells you people don’t like you, much less love you. He points out you are alone.
Then he moves in for what he hopes will be the kill. He tells you God is very disappointed in you and no longer loves you … if he ever did. He tells you that you better run because God wants to punish you severely.
In fact, he says, the world would be better off without you. He suggests you should end it all now because you really have no future.
Who knows but what that is what Judas heard after his colossal mistake. And instead of knowing the mercy with which Jesus would forgive him, he suffered the deceit of satan who literally left him hanging.
Can you forgive yourself? In part, but not completely. You can give yourself some grace in realizing the lessons often come after the mistake. But to receive the full Gift of Grace and Mercy, you need God.
Imagine yourself sitting down with God.
He is not name calling. He is not condemning you. He does what He did with earth’s first humans who sinned.
He let them know He was present, had been and always would be. He is with you now. He was with you when you stumbled. He will be with you.
He let them know He knew … everything. He does. God knows every detail of every moment of your life.
He asked them, “Where are you?” This was not a game of hide and seek. He wanted them to pause and consider how they got where they got. How did you get here? Where are you now?
He then asked them who they had been listening to. They recognized it was satan. Have you been listening to him too?
They then listened to God. Are you listening?
They let Him give them new clothes. Are you ready to change?
They followed Him on a new plan for their life. Are you really to leave your mistakes behind and follow Him to a new Life?
Judas was sorry for what he did. But he could not find forgiveness except in the one place it would be freely offered.
We will never know whether Judas heard Jesus’ Words from the cross and knew Jesus meant him too.
“Father, forgive him. He did not know what he was doing.”
And the message of Grace is Jesus has said that about all of us.
“Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.”
Have you ever really messed up? Put your foot in your mouth up to your thigh?
Turned on people you loved and did awful things to them?
Woke up in the middle of a horrible nightmare and realized you played a big part in the unfolding drama?
What happens next?
The answer determines the rest of your life.
In the unfolding Easter story, there were two men who had those experiences. They were once friends. They had eaten at the same table with their other friends.
They had worked together. They were part of such a close knit group they likely thought at one time they would die for each other.
But now they were in the middle of a nightmare. One of their friends had been killed in a horrible, tortuous way. Both had viewed from a distance. Neither had tried to rescue him. Both were drowning in grief … and guilt.
One man’s name was Peter. The other was named Judas. Their friend’s name was Jesus. All three would be remembered throughout history. But the rest of the story would be quite different for each of them.
Judas fully acknowledged how well he knew Jesus. He kissed Him and then betrayed Him.
Peter said three times he didn’t even know Jesus. He denied Him.
Jesus knew both of them far better than they knew themselves. He knew them and loved them both, even after they sinned against Him.
They were included in Jesus’ petition to His Father, when He said,
“Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Judas was sorry for his sin of betrayal. He tried on some level to undo his actions. He tried to return the money he
had been paid to betray Jesus.
But Judas could not undo what he had put into play. Sin can be forgiven, but its consequences often remain.
Judas publically acknowledged his sin.
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Matthew 27:4
No one could forgive him. And Judas could not forgive himself. He needed Jesus’ Forgiveness.
But instead of looking at Jesus and seeing himself in the reflection of Jesus’ Eyes, Judas looked in the mirror and saw himself. How could Jesus ever forgive the horrible person he had become?
Judas never asked for Jesus’ Forgiveness. It was fully available to him, but he would never know the joy of receiving it.
“He went away and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5
After Jesus’ Crucifixion, Peter hid. But at the first report that Jesus’ tomb was empty, he took off running to the tomb. He went directly inside.
The possibility of seeing Jesus again was all he wanted. He remembered the first day he realized he was standing in the Presence of One Who had Awesome Power.
After a day of fishing and catching nothing, Jesus had told Peter and his friends to cast out into the deep. They did. They caught so many fish that two boats were filled!
Peter had realized on that day that no one but God could have brought about such a miracle. He was stunned to realize he was standing in The Presence of God!
In the reflection of the Great Light coming from Jesus, Peter saw himself. He was a sinner. He did not deserve to be in the Presence of God.
He had fallen at Jesus’ Knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.” Luke 5:8
But Jesus would not go away.
Jesus didn’t even seem fazed by Peter’s confession. He already knew all about him.
Jesus simply said, “Don’t be afraid; from now on, you will fish for people.”
Luke 5:10
Peter left his nets, his boat and all the fish that day and he followed Jesus wherever He went … until … he became afraid … and denied him.
Peter also remembered the day he had known beyond a shadow of a doubt Who Jesus was. Jesus had given him the opportunity to say it out loud. He had not denied Jesus that day.
Jesus had asked His Followers, “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15
Peter had answered without hesitation, “You are The Messiah, The Son of The Living God.” Matthew 16:16
Standing in the empty tomb, Peter may have remembered how Jesus then told him who he (Peter) was and why he was on earth.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven …” Matthew 16:18-19
Peter longed for Jesus. Peter knew who he was — a sinful man. But now he also knew who he was in Jesus’ Eyes. He was the one on whom Jesus would build His Church.
Peter didn’t know how … but he would be ready. He started with what he knew. He went fishing.
It was there Jesus came again. When Peter saw Him on the shore, he jumped into the water and swam to Him.
What followed was a beautiful reunion in which Peter had the opportunity to tell Jesus three times that he loved Him.
Peter knew he was forgiven and he received that Gift with Joy!
Judas and Peter both sinned. Judas saw himself as a sinner too far away to ever get home.
Peter knew he was a sinner, but he knew The Power of The One Who looked past the sin to the person God created him to be.
Jesus loves you. He sees you as you were created to be. Are you running from Him or to Him? If you are not sure why you are here, ask Him. He knows.
“For I know The Plans I have for you,” declares The Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you Hope and a Future.”
How about someone you have forgiven of the same thing multiple times and yet they keep messing up?
Let’s get real. It may be easier to forgive someone from your past than someone in your present.
Peter had had it. We don’t know who had ticked him off. Peter was somewhat of a loose cannon, but he was really trying to live the way Jesus was teaching.
But he thought there must be some limit on how many times you can forgive someone. After all, after awhile, aren’t you being a doormat? How can you trust someone to be any different if you just keep forgiving them?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22
Peter did not have a calculator, but he immediately grasped that would be a bunch of times. Much more than he wanted. But Peter, even in his still immature state, loved Jesus. And so he continued on the journey.
We don’t have a report card for Peter, but we know he must have mastered the art of forgiveness, as he became the rock on which the church was built.
Let’s look a little closer at this issue. Someone who needs your repeated forgiveness is probably someone who is in your life or at least comes back into it again and again.
Isn’t repetitive forgiving just enabling them? No. Forgiveness does not mean you do not set boundaries for behavior. Jesus called out people when they needed it. He spoke clearly. He acted quickly and decisively. People knew where he stood.
And like a parent with a child, sometimes it took more than one time of setting boundaries to get through to people. But He used each opportunity to show love.
Forgiving like God is an interesting process. Forgiving seventy times seven was really only training wheels for Peter. The more he learned about God, the more he would understand God does not keep count of how many times He has forgiven us.
God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah,
“I will forgive their evil ways.
I will not remember their sins anymore.”
Jeremiah 31:31–34
The problem is we do remember. We have an imaginary counter. When we forgive, we remind those we are forgiving how many times they have messed up before and how grateful they should be that we are forgiving them again.
We put ourselves in a martyred position of “I don’t know why I put up with you.” And we may pronounce those words of condemnation that sink deep into a person’s soul — “You will never change.”
If they believe that, they will continue to need forgiveness over and over again.
But in God’s way of forgiveness, every time of sin is the first time. If we believe what He said through Jeremiah, then when we say to Him, “I’m sorry. I did it again,” He would say “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t remember that sin.”
Right after Jesus told Peter to keep forgiving, He told the story of the man whose large debt had been forgiven by The Master, but then the forgiven man refused to forgive the smaller debt of someone else.
The master was not pleased.
How many times have we been forgiven and will need to be forgiven again by God and other people?
Fortunately God is not counting … and we shouldn’t either.
Have you ever thought, “I’ll forgive them, but I will never forget it.”
Not being able to forgive is tied to hurt. But sometimes we are so angry or outraged, we cannot admit someone got to us … and it hurt.
You cannot rewrite history. It is what it is, but it does not have to be now what it was then.
Jesus showed His Wounds to Thomas. He let Thomas get very personal with Him. He told Thomas to reach into His wound.
But He did so, knowing He would not feel the pain. Was this because He was super human? No, Jesus was human, but He was also filled with The Healing Power of God.
That same Power is available to you. You may have scars, but you can be free of the pain.
Why does the human body show scars? It is a reminder, not just that we were wounded, but also that we survived. We healed. The evidence is still there, but not the pain.
We accept with gratitude the body’s natural physical healing, but we do not always do the same with our emotions, which affect our spiritual healing.
When we go over and over again things that caused us pain, it is like picking a scab off of a wound. It cannot heal. It still hurts.
We still feel angry with the person who caused the wound. We feel we cannot forget them. We feel we cannot forgive them.
Sometimes in an effort to free ourselves from the memory, we try to forget the person who caused the pain. This is nearly impossible.
The memories of that person are not only tied to the hurt, they are tied to other things too. So just hearing a song or being back in a certain location can bring the memory of that person and unwanted memories with them.
What can we do to practice true forgiveness?
Acknowledge your pain to God.
Tell God everything. He knows already, but He wants to hear it from you. It is like draining a wound.
Receive healing from God.
And then, remember the person who hurt you — not their actions, but the person.
Ask God to let you see them as He created them to be … not what they became, not what other people said they were, not who you thought they were. Just focus on what would have been the best version of that person, the one made in The Image of God.
We begin to crack our shell of hardness of heart if we can think of even one good trait.
Pray for them that they blossom into all God created them to be. Pray that they know God.
Then release them to God and be confident He will complete the work in that person and in you.
Yes … in you … that you allow God to complete His refining and restorative work in you.
Ask God if there is anything else you need to do. Sometimes He may prompt you to connect with that person. Sometimes He will simply say, “Let Me handle this now.”
And then rest in God’s Presence and receive forgiveness as you have forgiven.
For if you forgive others for their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
in my last post, we talked about what God says He wants — acknowledgement of Him, obedience and mercy.
Today is called Ash Wednesday in many Christian traditions. Some will have their foreheads marked with ashes to indicate their mourning over their sins and their hope that Jesus’ Work on the cross will bring God’s forgiveness.
However, not everyone can be forgiven.
This seems like a radical statement. Shouldn’t we repent of our sins? Isn’t God merciful? Wouldn’t He forgive those things for which we are truly sorry?
Yes to all those things … except there is one thing we need to do first.
We say The Lord’s Prayer. We say, “Forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Matthew 6:12-13
As if to emphasize the importance of what we prayed, Jesus added,
“For if you forgive men for their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus said it plainly there. That is how forgiveness works. We have to forgive everyone first. Then we can receive what we gave.
In our humanness, we might say, “That’s a big ask. I don’t know if I can do that.”
Here is where we go back to what God wants.
He wants us to acknowledge Him — accept He is God. We are not. He makes the rules.
God wants us to obey. Do what He says to do .
God wants us to show mercy.
A dictionary defines imercy as
Compassion or forgiveness shown to others when it is well within one’s power to punish or harm.
So mercy does not mean we look the other way or try to pretend a wrong has not been done.
Mercy means we are fully aware something was wrong.
We may be fully aware we or someone else was deeply hurt because of that wrong.
We may have the desire and means to punish or harm them.
But God says, “I desire Mercy. I want you to forgive them.”
We might be tempted to say, “What about justice? What about fairness? What about righting this wrong?”
The answer to that is God will bring justice in His Way and His Time. As for us, we cannot judge. See Rule number one. God is God. We are not.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge or you too will be judged.”
Matthew 7:1
God is perfectly willing to hear our concerns . But He is the only Judge. We cannot judge. We cannot sentence. We cannot punish.
What can we do? We can forgive and ask God’s healing power to flow through all who were hurt.
We can pray for our enemies.
We can bless those who persecute us.
We can continue to follow the path of mercy.
Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means. I desire mercy!”
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea6:6
Does The Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrificesas much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.
1 Samuel 15:22
Jesus reminded everyone again when He said,
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”
Matthew 9:13
Jesus’ Words are an excellent way to enter what humans have called a season of Lent. Lent actually came along 325 years after Jesus. So it is a tradition, not a directive from God.
Traditions can be helpful to focus our attention or bring us together in common thoughts. But we have to be careful so our traditions do not drown out God’s Words.
Jesus warned about that also.
He gave an example of how even religious leaders could fall into the trap of tradition,
“making The Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:13
If we want to celebrate Lent, we do not need to come up with ways of self denial for a season. We do not need to announce with pride or pain what we are giving up for Lent.
We can do what God said He wants, not just for a season, but for a lifetime.
What does He want?
Acknowledge Him.
Be still and truly know God is God.
Obey God. Hear Him. Do what He tells you to do. When He tells you to do something, do it. If He tells you not to do something, don’t do it.
Learn what God means when He speaks.
Look at how God lived life as a human. Recognize He still lives in you right now.
Lent is not a time to mourn. It is not a time when we have to wait for some recurrent miracle to happen at a time we call Easter.
The Christmas message of Jesus being God with us is still true.
Jesus’ Promise of being with us always is still true.
The best way to begin Lent is to do what Jesus said.
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”
