Who DESERVES forgiveness?
By Brian Barrier
Burke County
It was a warm day when my mother placed me gently in the basket and left me by the river. She had no choice really. At only three months old, I was now a liability. I was one of the lucky ones because a wealthy and powerful woman raised me as her own. One day, when I was a grown man, I witnessed one of my people being beaten and I killed the offender and hid his body in the sand. I am a murderer. My name is Moses and I would later be chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I was also given the Ten Commandments from God. My sins were forgiven.
I was known for slaying the great giant, Goliath. Later, I became king over all of Israel and was even know as being a man after God’s own heart. It happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle. While walking around the roof of the king’s house, I saw a beautiful woman bathing. I inquired about her and found out that she was the wife of one of my soldiers. I had her brought to me and lay with her. I even sent her husband to the front lines of the battle to his death. My name is King David. My sins were forgiven.
These are only two of many examples throughout the Bible of people that committed what we might consider great sins but were found righteous and walked close to the Lord. The obvious lesson here is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ Romans 3:23. We know that all sins are forgiven when we confess our sins, turn away from them and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. “But as many, as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name”. John 1:12.
As modern-day Christians, we read these stories in the Bible but all too often we don’t make the connection to our fellow man (woman). We know that we were born into sin and we are only saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross and became the sacrifice for our sins, past, present, and future.
But do you know all this, right? Can anyone be forgiven for any sin? And what about forgiving those who have wronged us? The Bible says, “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”. Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
I can’t think of a better time than when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ to meditate on the Word of God and what it says about forgiveness. As you read the following letter from a prisoner that we send a copy of the Blue Ridge Christian News to each month, think about the forgiveness that you have received from God even though you don’t deserve it. It is only through a relationship with Jesus Christ that is made possible. Read this letter. Pray. If there is someone you have been reluctant or even refusing to forgive, now is the time! The Bible says, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15.
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Brian Barrier is a life-long resident of Burke County, U.S. Army Veteran, a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton and Publisher of the Blue Ridge Christian News.
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