In these situations, have you ever asked yourself, “What do I really want from them?” Honestly speaking, is there anything they could realistically do to make things right? I am going to guess that in most cases, probably not. Especially if they have died, have nothing to do with you anymore or are uncooperative. Most likely, whatever you could think up for the person to do, would either never happen or end up not being enough.
There is only one sure way of handling situations like this. Forgiveness. It is written, “. . . as the Lord [Jesus] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossian 3:13).Forgiveness is an often-used term in financial sectors, referring to the forgiveness of a loan or another type of financial debt. It is also used in relationships with the same idea. When someone has offended you, they have accrued an offense debt. They would pay it off by voluntarily coming and admitting what they have done, making no excuses, and apologizing. Then in response you forgive the offense debt and peace is restored in the relationship.
However, it normally does not work that way. Typically, the person who hurt you never comes to make things right. Let me ask this tough question. Will you forgive the one who has hurt you without them admitting any wrong? It is easy to forgive when the person genuinely apologizes, but hard when someone arrogantly refuses. In situations like these this is where forgiveness is desperately needed, but can only be done by the power of God.
In our natural humanness we will only forgive if someone meets our conditions for it. And when someone does not meet our conditions, we refuse forgiveness. According to God’s standards though, He requires it. No matter the gravity of the offense. No matter the attitude of the offender. No excuses. God commands us to forgive.
Why? Because the eternal destiny of our unseen soul depends on it.
Jesus provided an example. He suffered, died and rose again to provide the forgiveness you and I need for our offenses against Him. He chose to do it despite our selfish attitude and rejection of Him. He made away for the ungrateful to be forgiven. In the same way, we must forgive others. Because through the cross Jesus forgave, so must we.
If we refuse, the consequences are dire. God will not forgive us. Think about it logically. How can He forgive us, if we refuse to forgive others? How can He allow an unforgiving person into His forgiving eternal home?
In our natural state, it is nearly impossible to forgive, but with the power of God, it is possible. By faith call out to Him for help. Admit your weakness, but also your willingness to do it.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will help the reader to see if there is anyone they need to forgive. Surface a name and face, and nature of the offense. Bring them to submit to your command to forgive no matter how hard it is. Then empower them through the Holy Spirit to actually forgive, releasing the person from any offense debt they owe. Enable them to forgive like Jesus and experience your grace. In Jesus name. Amen.”
When your name is said in your community, what do you think comes to a person’s mind? What about among your family and closest friends, those who know you best, who know both your good and bad? What about with God? Keep in mind, He is a Spirit that is present everywhere all the time. Meaning, He has seen everything we have ever done and heard everything we have ever spoken. He also knows everything that has ever passed through our mind: all images, thoughts and motives. Based on that, what if someone came to God in heaven and mentioned your name to Him, what do you think would come to His mind?
The Bible verse clearly communicates that a person’s name has significance because it is a reflection of their life. And it states that a good name is to be chosen over riches. What does riches mean? It refers to a person’s strong focus on increased income, possessions, influence and all the different things that money can do at the expense of a good name. But what is at the heart of the pursuit of riches? Self. We want, what we want, when we want it. This reveals our perspective on life. First, we are the most important person in our life and primarily focus on what has a direct or indirect benefit on us. Second, we are only focused on the present or future of this life.
What does the proverb mean by desiring a “good name”? It does not primarily refer to a good name among people, because that would lead to pleasing others in order to be accepted by them. It indicates desiring a good name before God and acceptance by Him. This is the wiser and to be sought out above everything else in life.
How does one achieve a good name? It starts with admitting your life has been primarily about you, which has led to disobedience against God and the disrespect of others. It is lifting your eyes off yourself and up toward God’s only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again. It is calling upon God in faith, asking Him to help change your ways, and maybe even going to others to make things right whom you have wronged. It is God pouring His Spirit within you and giving you His character and power to live differently. And according to His Word, your life will start to become marked by a new set of qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
The new life God will bring upon us will have three amazing promises. First, we will receive a new name. Yes, we will keep our previous name, but in being changed by God our name will become “good” by Him, thereby becoming new. Second, Jesus promises that our new name is written down in a book of life He possesses. Third, He promises that one day in the future, beyond this life, He will confess our new name before God the Father in heaven and all the angels.
If you continue living as you are, the God who knows all things will judge you accordingly and the present and eternal consequences that come will be justified. But if you desire a good name and favor with God above the temporal things of this life, and turn to Him with all your heart, you will escape His judgment and receive a new name that one day will be voiced among the angels.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will help me to examine my ways. Have I been only living for myself and this life? Have I disrespected others and disobeyed You in the pursuit of my interests? Lift my eyes toward You. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Save me. Change me. Give me a new name that I might live honorably before You. In Jesus name. Amen.”
How does this relate to Easter? Religious and political corruption were the seedbed of Jesus’ death. The story of the cross of Christ is the most egregious form of corruption in world history. One of Jesus’ leading disciples rightly and publicly, accused the Jewish religious leaders along with some members of the public, of their illegal actions, forcefully stating “. . . you denied the Holy and Righteous One . . . you killed the Author of life . . .” (Acts 3:14,15)
Jesus was not a victim of this corruption by any means though. Being God, He knew the thoughts of His enemies, who believed they were secretly plotting out their conspiracy against Him. He knew every detail of their plans in advance and possessed evidence of it all. For He was the most intelligent, skilled and wisest man who ever lived.
How did Jesus respond? Did He call His followers to rise and defend Him? Did He flex His supernatural powers and strike dead all His accusers with a word or motion of His hand? First, Jesus’ perspective was not from the view of temporal, earthly or mortal understanding. He saw events from the view of heaven, eternity and the immoral condition of the human heart. Second, He chose the greatest weapon in His divine arsenal to fight with – truth. The Scriptures have a synonym for this, the “sword of His mouth.” Read the story of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial, torture and death. Whenever corruption reared its ugly head, Jesus humbly and skillfully wielded the sword of truth. Third, He knew His divine and invisible Father had a plan that was being carefully carried out under His watchful eye. He entrusted His very life to His all-powerful and loving Father.
His followers though, were confused and disillusioned. They did not understand. On Friday morning, while still alive, Jesus’ body was nailed to a wooden cross. Hours later He died. Then He was buried where His lifeless body lay sealed in a tomb. “It’s over”, they thought. It did not make sense. On Saturday He still lay dead in a tomb. Had the corrupt practices of men defeated the King of Kings? Was evil and lawless scheming awarded victory over the Son of God? Absolutely nothing made sense . . . until Sunday morning.
As the sun slowly inched above the landscape and its beams shot across the horizon, some women came to the tomb of their Teacher weighed down with grief. As they approached, the ground shook violently. Then suddenly, an angelic being appeared sitting atop of Jesus’ tomb. It had been rolled away! The angel told the women, “[Jesus] is not here, for he has risen . . . Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6).
He had risen! The corrupt schemes of men had been defeated, and the religious and political leaders were left powerless to cover up history’s greatest miracle.
In every nation on earth, in nearly every group or organization known to man, lawlessness, deceit and wickedness is present at some level. How shall we live in times like these? Just like Jesus. Let us fight lies with His sword of truth. Immorality with His Spirit of holiness. Anger with His love. Arrogance with His humility. Human cleverness with heaven’s wisdom. Worldly urgency with Godly patience.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, open our eyes and let us see there is nothing new among the children of men and women. Injustice and corruption have existed since nearly the beginning of time, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection we can overcome. Let us rejoice in the face of darkness because you have risen. Let us be willing to lay down our lives in this battle with evil, while taking up the weapons of truth, holiness and love. In Jesus name. Amen.”
