Hello ,
Day #4 - The Gift of
Forgiveness
There I sat in the living room of our little house on the Christmas Tree farm in the Northeast...my heart was heavy on that Friday night. I had recently begun going back to church, but I was really struggling with getting over some of the awful things that I had done in the past. I won't get
into all the issues that I had to deal with, but let's just say that my heart was REALLY heavy!
I decided to call a friend in California who was studying to be a doctor.
I felt like Jon was one of the only authentic Christians that I knew, (he used to invite me to his Christian parties, and I would show up with my long hair, ear-rings, and
smelling like a traveling saloon.) If anyone could help me work through my struggles and point me in the right direction I knew that Jon could.
With trepidation I called the number and Jon answered. He was kind, thoughtful, and quietly listened as I poured out my heart to him about my past. I didn't hold anything
back; I went through every sordid detail of my pain, and I wondered out loud how God could ever love a despicable person with such a past.
Jon waited until I had finally unloaded my entire package of heartache, and then he softly spoke."Mike, do you have a Bible there with you?"
"Yeah, I think so, let me go find it." I replied. I retrieved the old Bible that hadn't received much use in the past and sat back down. "Mike, I want you to do something, O.K.? I want you to turn to the book of Romans. When you get there, go to Romans 8:1 and read it out loud to me." I turned to the chapter and verse and began to read:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Jon continued; "Mike, Jesus didn't come down here to condemn you...He came down here to save you. You can be free from your past tonight if you choose to ask Him to forgive your past."
Jon then led me to 1 John 1:9 and I read, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I cannot describe the peace that came over me as my long distance friend led me to Jesus that cold, dark night in November of 1993. To say that it was a
turning point in my life would be an understatement!
Forgiveness is a gift.
We don't deserve it, and we've done nothing to merit our receiving of it, but God offers it anyway. If you have been struggling with some of the things that you have done in your past, these verses are for you as well.
God stands ready, willing, and able to forgive you for things that you are ashamed of, and He will be faithful. His forgiveness isn't based on our feelings. It's based on His love for us, and on His Word that is sure and real. It's a gift, and it has the potential to change our lives if we'll let it.
Tomorrow, I'll share "the rest of the story" about what happened the very next morning after I spoke with my friend Jon in California.
Have a great day and God bless!
Pastor Mike / The Open Word
