Forgiveness: One Man's Journey The Conclusion

This article was originally published in the Franklin News-Post.

For those who identify as Christians, the very essence of our faith walk is rooted in forgiveness – love and forgiveness.  The concept of forgiveness is addressed throughout the pages of the Bible.  I’m not a Bible scholar.  Nor am I an educated theologian.  I am merely sharing my journey down this pathway of forgiveness.


In Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV), Jesus teaches us how we are to pray.  In verse 12, we are to seek forgiveness and forgive others.  To me, just as powerful as the words in verse 12 are the two verses that follow the Lord’s Prayer.  In Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) it reads, “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.  An expectation has been set for us. There is something we must do.


When I am invited to speak at churches or other venues, I often refer to the scripture, Ephesians 4:25-32 (KJV).  The apostle Paul is encouraging the body of believers in this letter as to a way they should live.  I emphasize verse 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”


As Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  He was moving in forgiveness even as they carried out the various transgressions against Him.  He was interceding on their behalf even though they did not ask for it; weren’t remorseful; were not repentant.


I shared with you a lot of pain and gloom over the first parts of this series.  In my situation, when I began to walk in forgiveness, this lifelong weight and condition began to be lifted.  When I stopped focusing on the things that caused me such pain and bitterness, my condition improved.  When I began focusing on the One who made a way for me, my burdens became light.  I found rest.


The God I choose to serve sent His Son as a sacrifice for MY sins.  As I accepted what He had done for me, as I surrender (a daily decision) to His will for my life, I have discovered a freedom that I could never have imagined.  By living with a forgiving spirit, I have unlocked a door to a restored life.  Relationships that were once broken are healed or are being healed.  I am open to establishing relationships with others in ways of which my brother spoke.  Where I once lived an existence that was isolating and kept me separate from all that God has for me, I now embrace a future.


Just this morning, a man who I have gotten to know over the past couple of years made a reference when describing me to others that I was a “messenger of hope.”  I didn’t always live this way.  It is humbling.  I live today to be evidence of the light of the One who restored me. Forgave me. Died for me.  I want to encourage others that you can lay your burdens down at the cross.  What He did for me, He will do for another.


Forgiveness is a choice.


Our faith walks are just that, ours.  It’s personal.  No one can choose it for us.  No one can do it for us.  My brother, the one killed in a motorcycle accident, tried to teach this to me for a long time.  It was only through his passing that I finally received it.


When I showed up in the court room on behalf of the driver involved in the accident, I got to live forgiveness in the life of another.  When the judge was informed that I was there to pay any fine imposed in his case, I got to bear witness to seeing the burden lifted from another man.  When I embraced this man for the first time there in the court room and told him, “I’ve got you.  It’s going to be alright,” I experienced something quite special.


In the blink of an eye, things can change.  There is power in forgiveness.


Just one man’s journey.