“Forgive and Be Healed” Pt 1 of 2:
Forgiveness is something everyone knows is necessary and important, but many (including professing Christians) never move forward with efforts to solve or least put to rest an issue. Forgiving someone that has hurt you in some way is difficult because even if the physical and emotional feelings have died down, your memory recalls the event as if it happened this morning. Your mind recalls the incident, and a vicious cycle of emotions kicks into gear.
The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). A similar warning is found in Ephesians 4:27, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” Any time I write about forgiveness I see faces of people unknown to me that become even more angry after reading the words before them. Seriously, nothing could be written or said about forgiving others that you don’t already know. The pain inflicted has grown into anger, bitterness, and a hard heart toward the offender. “I could never forgive that person for what they did to me!” We’ve all heard that phrase and perhaps used it ourselves. Here’s another phrase used a lot – “I’ve forgiven them, BUT I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID!”
The tone of that phrase makes even the casual observer wonder if the forgiveness is real or a statement felt necessary to say. J. Edwin Orr composed a wonderful hymn in 1936. Its message is powerful, convicting, and calls one to action. The first verse of “Cleanse Me” goes like this – “Search me, O God, and know my heart today. Try me, O Savior; know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me; Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.” Regarding the statement, “I’ve forgiven, but will never forget what they did to me,” I have a thought.
Have you ever been cut so badly that when the wound healed, it left a scar? If you’ve ever had surgery, there was pain before and most likely after it was over. Eventually the pain caused by the cut or surgery healed but a scar remains. As you look at the scar, it’s a reminder of what happened. You may even remember and can describe the pain you endured, BUT THERE’S NO MORE PAIN! You may never forget how someone hurt you, but when you sincerely forgive them, and begin praying for that individual and asking God to help you love them, the problem may be lodged in your memory, but when you think about the person or incident, there’s no more pain. It's a flashing thought and passed on. Healing begins the moment you surrender your heart and the other person to the Lord. I’ll expand this thought tomorrow.
Pastor Carnes
