Forgiven
This last summer, I was visiting my uncle in Fairbanks, Alaska. Uncle Bob was the only uncle I knew very well; growing up in the same town. It had been many years since we were together and, although he was hard of hearing, we spent some great moments reminiscing past experiences. He told me a story that has stuck with me ever since. Some years ago, as he was welding on a scaffold, he lost his balance and fell. Some of his bones were badly broken, and he was in the hospital, in traction for some time. One night, as he lay strapped in his bed, unable to move his head, he heard someone come into the room. He didn’t know who had come into the room, but only heard him say: “Many people don’t know the joy of being forgiven.” That was all the person said and then it was silent again. The nurse came in and my uncle asked who it was who had come into the room, but she said that no one had come in. This simple sentence changed his approach to evangelism. From that time on he would ask everyone he met if they knew the joy of being forgiven.
As I have thought about this simple message, I must agree, that this is the most important thing; to have our sins forgiven. Sin separates man from God and Jesus came to shed His blood so that sin could be atoned for. (Heb. 9:22) When our sins are forgiven, then the enemy no longer has any arguments against us. We are free from condemnation and have access to God. When our sins are forgiven, there is joy in heaven and in us. It is forgiveness that changes us. It is forgiveness that justifies us before God; making us just as if we had never sinned.
When a man, sick with palsy, was brought to Jesus, the people present were expecting a to see a miracle of healing. Healing was certainly what that lame man needed, but it wasn’t the most important thing. Jesus looked at the man and said: “your sins are forgiven”. (Luke 5:20) The religious leaders were shocked, knowing that only God could forgive sins. But this was just the point. Jesus is God and He came to forgive sins. From forgiveness came healing and the admonition to sin no more. The same thing happened when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. She wanted to dialog about social etiquette and places and types of worship, but Jesus touched the most critical area and that was her sin. When she went into the village to tell others about Jesus, she did not talk about the new revelation she had received on worship, but rather that her sins had been revealed and forgiven. (John 4:5-30)
Many of us are emotionally stirred by a great worship service or by an inspiring sermon, and yet lose these blessings on the way home from church because of a flat tire, crying children or an argument with our spouse. What stays with us is the joy of being forgiven. True worship is the result of the forgiveness of sins and not a way to get to God. When the multitudes were worshipping Jesus, as He entered into Jerusalem on a donkey, He was aware that soon their praises would turn into curses. Jesus was focused on the purpose of His coming into Jerusalem. It was not to receive the praise of man, but to be “lifted up” on the cross. By the shedding of His blood He would draw all men unto Himself. (John 12:32) Forgiveness is, as the hymnist wrote: “joy unspeakable and full of glory”.
Scriptures to meditate on:
John 4:5-30; Heb. 9:22; II Cor. 5:17; Acts 5:31; 13:38; 26:29; Col. 1:14