"It is not our capacity to forgive, but our ability to repent and forgive, which makes us different. Only humans can perform that totally unnatural act, which transcends the implacable laws of nature. "
"If we do not transcend nature, we remain tied to people we can not forgive; gripped by them. This principle applies even when one of the parties is totally innocent, and the other totally guilty, because the innocent party will carry the wound until it can find a way to let go, and forgiveness is the only way. "
(Philip Yancey, "Divine Grace vs. Human Condemnation" [pg 111 and 112] Editorial Vida, Miami, 1998. The brief quotation is published in the terms of the legally permitted use, mentioning the source and author, and without altering content or context).
A few weeks ago I learned of a beloved brother who, having studied, taught and preached the Word of Our Lord for years, was confronted within the bosom of his family with a tremendous crisis. The test left him in just a few days totally "out of circuit". Today he does not want to know anything more with God. His life, family and ministry are on the edge of an abyss.
Only an election and a step is what can determine that years of effort, sleeplessness and blessings are shattered from one day to the next, or are enriched and strengthened for life. The output is so simple and at the same time so difficult. Before him an immense abyss. On one side, a small bridge the size of a tree. From the wood of the cross of Jesus. My beloved brother can jump into the abyss and see destroyed everything that cost him so much to build, or he can choose to go through the small bridge of FORGIVENESS and thus enriched his life, family and ministry.
Personally, I see myself identified in this life story. I must admit that it took me a long time to learn the exercise of forgiveness. Even being a believer, it was very difficult for me to forgive. It helped me in a great way to remember all that the Lord had to forgive me, and all that my brothers, friends and family had to, and still have to forgive me. And this includes the ability to forgive myself too.
It is that if to ask for forgiveness a contrite and humiliated heart is necessary, to FORGIVE IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO HUMBLE, since this implies the recognition of our condition as sinners and reveals our own capacity for repentance.
But God shows his love for us, in that while still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 8 RV1960
