Seventy Times Seven
Submitted by Lonely J on December 3 2001 01:14:28
In reply to Re: Looking in the mirror submitted by Ben on November 30 2001 08:00:55
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Dear Ben, Having pondered your comments for some time, I still believe that the ‘why’ of actions are very important. For example, eight years ago one of my ‘Christian’ friends whom I’d met through an acquaintance at work stole my bass guitar and disappeared. I was devastated over the situation and always wondered ‘why’. I knew that he often times had fights with his parents and had been kicked out once. I thought perhaps he had been kicked out, had no money, panicked, pawned it and was too ashamed to face me. I’m not saying that circumstances such as these excuse sin, but they do call out for some measure of compassion and understanding. I decided not to pursue the matter legally, prayed for his well-being and safety, and asked God to help me forgive him. About a year and a half later, I happened to run into him. He had not been kicked out, he had not been broke, and he had no remorse whatsoever about what he’d done. He laughed, hurled a few insults my way and was out of my life about as quickly as he’d dropped in. I’ve not seen him since and have long struggled with the issue of forgiveness over this and similar incidents in my life. Does God forgive the unrepentant sinner? Certainly, He forgives repentant sinners (1 John 1:9) and even ignorant sinners (Luke 23:34), but unrepentant ones? Take care and God bless, J |
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