SCATTERSHOT #4
FORGIVE?
Some words are easy to define. Others almost seem to defy definition. Concrete (or definite) things are easy to define. Nebulous (or concept) things are really hard to define.
What is the concept of “chair”? Does the concept include legs? Does it include arms? Does it include certain materials? What does it take for a thing to be a chair? However, do you have much trouble recognizing a chair? Can you tell a chair from a stool? But, can you define “chair”?
While the concept of chair may not be of great consequence in the world, some concepts are quite important. That makes the definitions important. If you and I use the very same words speaking to each other while understanding those words very differently we may not actually communicate at all. Having the same definitions can be really important!
How about “forgiveness.” How do you define that one? Is it “forgive and forget?” Is it “forgive, but hold a grudge forever?” Is it “forgive, but wait for a chance to do it to them?” Is it “forgive and act as if nothing ever happened?” Or is it something else?
Each of those preceding definitions shared the same fallacy, the same weakness – you can not define a word by using the word itself in the definition for the word. So, what is “forgive?”
Let me suggest that the word “forgive” is rooted in the Law of Moses. Surprised? If there is anything that is not usually associated with law, it is forgiveness.
The Law of Moses (Exodus 21:23-25) said, “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” The principle is that the one who injures will end up being injured in exactly the same way as he injured someone else. The Law then continues the application by saying that whatever you stole from someone shall be paid back double (or even more) – making you end up the way you tried to make the other person end up.
We find the principle of forgiveness in the cry of Jesus from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” What was Jesus asking God to do? Take another look at those definitions four paragraphs above. Does one of those fit the prayer of Jesus? Did God use one of those definitions in dealing with you and your sin?
Let me offer a different idea. “To forgive is to give up the right to get even.” Take another look at that quote from the Law of Moses two paragraphs above. Do you see it – the right to get even? It is there. It is your right. But when you exercise that right with another person, you tell God that that is the way you want him to deal with you. Hear again the end of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:12-14, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 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.”
I don’t know about you, but when I pray I would like to hear God say “Yes!” What if the next time you prayed the Lord’s Prayer God said “Yes?”
What happens when you give up the right to get even?
First, you say, “God, I can’t make it even. I can’t figure it out. I am going to let you take care of this one. I release it and give it to You.” When you say that, let it go! You don’t need to watch, you probably won’t see what God does with it. He might even deal with that person’s sin the way He dealt with your sin – He might just forgive him outright.
