As the image of that person drifted into Jim’s mind, his heart palpitated; his inner being became wrenched and hurt swelled in his very soul. That person has hurt him grievously and Jim cannot forget…
Then a question sprung to his mind, “How should I respond to this person after what he has done?” As a child of God, he knew what the bible says. Verses came to his mind:
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32).
‘Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends’ (Proverbs 17:9).
But Jim looked up bleary-eyed into the sky and cried out, “Lord, why should I forgive that scum after what he has done to me?”
And yet, he knew the answers:
Because God commands us to forgive. Because, learning to forgive teaches us the importance of God’s love for us. Because forgiveness is part of the essence of the Christian faith (Mark 11:25). And forgiveness will put an end to the cycle of destructive, meaningless and fruitless revenge.
Jim also knew that the forgiving of someone will lead to the healing of the forgiver’s soul. And yet, it is so difficult, so impossible, so unnatural to do so… Tired and weary, he fell into a slumber…
When he woke up, a scene came to his mind where a man was nailed to a wooden cross and in deep, intense and excruciating pain. As his life ebbed away, he uttered, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In his last moments, his love for those who persecuted him remained palpable and unabated.
This was the man who has given Jim eternal life. This was the man who has guided and loved him in his life. And this was the man who had sacrificed his life to offer forgiveness and salvation to those who believe in him.
And now, this man wants Jim to forgive his perpetrator. Will he?…
After three days of inner struggle, Jim knelt down and prayed, “Dear Lord, I have decided to forgive this person but my hurt and anger will take time to ebb and healing will take time. Please guide, strengthen and transform my heart so that I can undergo and complete the journey of forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!”
Jim is a fictitious person.