“I never promised you a rose-garden” went the song by Lynn Andersen. Pardons are great, and most of us see them as worthy when extended to someone deserving one. Recently, however, our president, Joe Biden, granted pardons to a large number of prisoners; amongst them thieves and murderers, provoking outrage from some families as well as from the public.
Outrage comes from the fact that some criminals don’t deserve pardons-members of society feel. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on with this issue, multitudes against pardons in general, don’t recognize God as a forgiving God. Hence, “if I’m not forgiven, no one else should,” they say.
Granted, inmates on death row don’t seem like caring and trusting individuals. Not exactly who you’d like to invite over for a meal. I don’t know specifics in their cases, and I’m not choosing sides. But I do know that as bad, or horrific some of their crimes may be, you and I have been in bad-standing with God. We’ve been on His death row all our lives. In fact, some of us have been so mean and bad that others won’t believe we’ve really come to the Lord. Some may think it’s a hoax. Some believe it’s impossible for God to forgive us, because they surely won’t. Some may say, “I’m glad Jesus forgave him, cause I surely won’t.”
That’s where God draws the line. He knows NONE of us are worthy of His forgiveness. That’s what makes grace so special. See, NOT ONE individual in heaven will be able to stand and say he/she deserved forgiveness! No one can claim they made it to heaven on their own merits. NOT ONE person can claim righteousness without God’s intervention. Not a single (or married!) person will stand up and say, “It took you long enough!” “I’ve been here chillin’ wondering when the rest of y’all were gonna get here.”
God’s the perfect reason why we need to learn to forgive others. We all deserve death and punishment for our sins against God. Knowing there was no way anyone could achieve forgiveness on their own, He made a way. Even before Adam & Eve sinned, He had already established how we’d be forgiven. Jesus would come to earth to die in our place. Instead of each of us being nailed to a cross carrying our sins, Jesus took our place. He became the curse that we were and carried, and allowed us to take on His righteousness.
Remember the TV show, Trading Spaces? Think of it as Trading Places. He became us, and we became Him. We get to be called children of the Most-High God (Galatians 3:26).
So, although, trials come, just like the song says, “Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime,” Jesus, who prayed, “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34), has also promised to “never leave us or forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). He’s with us in the dark, dingy days.
“So, what if I don’t forgive?” you might ask. God’s got that covered as well. The LORD’s prayer ends this way: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:13-15).
The only way to receive God’s forgiveness, is to extend forgiveness to others. This is one of the main reasons He will say to millions of people: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Words we never want to hear!
Even if we choose to forgive a person we feel doesn’t deserve it, God is the judge (Isaiah 33:22), He’ll judge them righteously (Psalm 7:11 NIV). Leave it to Him! No one will escape Him!
But, if you have a forgiving heart, then you can understand the lyrics to another song that says:
I’m forgiven because you were forsaken and I’m accepted you were condemned I’m alive and well your spirit is within me because you died and rose again
Amazing love how can it be that you my king would die for me”
Amazing Love by Chris Tomlin
Start the year on the right foot. Forgive others.
God Bless!
Sam