Forgiven!

Forgiven, the word has an almost majestic sound to it. What does the word mean to you?

Collins Concise Dictionary gives us definitions for the verb forgive, -giving, -gave, -given as:

1. To cease to blame (someone or something).

2. To grant pardon for (a mistake etc.).

3. To free (someone) from penalty.

4. To free from the obligation of (a debt etc.).

So if I am forgiven it means that I have been released from an obligation or debt of some kind. This release is not an abstract thing; someone (the forgiver) has actually carried out the act of forgiving me. The word forgiven is in the past tense it indicates an action that has already taken place.

All of us have at some time caused injury or hurt to others. Whether we like it or not we have therefore incurred a debt or obligation towards those persons. It may be physical or financial or emotional injury - the onus is on us to seek forgiveness. Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is simply apologise for an action. A half hearted apology is not a real apology. It is up to the injured party to accept our apology and forgive us for our action. Any true reconciliation may require restitution by the offending party.

In the Epistle of James we learn the truth about ourselves.

James 3:2 (KJV)

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." This verse tells us that in many things we all offend. Often we can offend someone without even knowing that we are offending the person. These offences require forgiveness.

Because we are sinners we all offend the true and living God. Romans 3:23 tells us that, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 reveals that, "...the wages of sin is death..."

As you and I are unable to pay the debt of sin - then there is a penalty to pay! However all is not lost.

Ezekiel 33:10-11

"(10)..."If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?" '
(11) Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die...?' Please note that the true and living God does not derive any pleasure when men, women and children die in their sins. Why should He? He has provided salvation for each of us; with that salvation we obtain the forgiveness of our sins.

Acts 13:38

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man [Jesus Christ] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins"

Ephesians 1:7

"In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace"

Colossians1:13-17

"(13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
(14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

(16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
(17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

How are your sins forgiven? Through the redemption obtained through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!  And why is this possible? Because He paid the penalty for our sins!

Let's look again at the definitions above for the verb forgive and its derivatives.

1. To cease to blame (someone or something).

2. To grant pardon for (a mistake etc.).

3. To free (someone) from penalty.

4. To free from the obligation of (a debt etc.).

The immediate effect of Christ's offer of salvation is to free us from our obligation - the debt of our sins. With the obligation gone we are freed from the penalty - death. God can then grant us a pardon because the debt has been paid by Christ. All this happens because our blame was transferred to Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Our Substitute paid the penalty!

Have a look again at the majesty and glory of the Son in Colossians 1:13-17 and marvel that this is the One who paid the price of my sins and your sins. Put your faith and trust in Him, receive Him as your Lord and Saviour and bask in the knowledge of your sins being forgiven. It is an eternal forgiveness!

It's a great thing to know that God has forgiven me. May it be so in your life!

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail

This sounds logical doesn't it? It makes sense! The Scriptures give us examples.

 Luke 14:28-32:

"(28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--

(29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
(30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

(31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

(32) Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace."

OK you could look at these two examples and say it's only common sense to assess the feasibility of a project before you start it.  Surely that would be the prudent course of action. So let's have a closer look at the first example. The intention is to build a tower. There will be costs involved for materials and labour. Will the funds on hand be sufficient to cover these costs? It will not be good to begin the project, put down the foundation for the tower and then run out of money or materials to finish it. There will be damage to your reputation and your finances.

It will not be wise to begin in a state of optimism and hope somehow you will find the money and resources to complete this project. Good preparation is vital to the success of the project. One of my former bosses, a sales manager, had this saying. "Plan your work and work your plan." Within that plan should be allowances for unexpected contingencies. Things do not always run smoothly. You may need to reprioritise your daily schedules. A realistic budget estimating the finances, resources, materials, labour and time involvement has to be worked out before the project can begin. This is where you plan your work! When you have a green light to proceed, this is when you work your plan!

In the second example we have the scenario of two kings going to war against each other. One king has ten thousand soldiers; however the other king has twenty thousand soldiers. Can the king with ten thousand soldiers defeat his enemy who has twenty thousand soldiers? This is where a very careful consideration of possible battle plans needs to be drawn up. Can you use the element of surprise? Is the terrain favourable to you or to your enemy? Will the weather be to your advantage? Have you sufficient weapons for your army? Will you have access to enough food and materials to sustain your army? Is there high morale amongst your men? Is there good discipline in the ranks? The battle ground is not the place to find out if you have serious deficiencies in any of these areas.

If you are not confident that a victory is possible then that is when you send a delegation to your enemy to seek conditions of peace. It is more prudent to be subservient to the other king than to be annihilated in battle. It is better to pay some form of financial tribute than to have the other army sweep over your land and make it desolate.

The Boy Scout Movement has a well proven motto, "Be prepared". Good preparation is often the key to success. Half hearted preparation often ends in failure. My mother had a good motto, "Lazy people take the most pains". They often have to repeat their efforts because they were too lazy to do the job properly in the first place. This is where taking shortcuts instead of doing things correctly in the first instance can lead to a botched job and  having to do it all again. Does this sound familiar?

My father also had a good motto, "If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well". A half hearted, slovenly approach to a job usually ends in a botched job. Even with good preparation mistakes can and do occur. This is where your contingency plans come into operation.

Many people have a 5 year plan, or a 10 year plan, and some even have a life plan. They make their plan and then proceed to work their plan to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Let's assume that you are one of these people. You have achieved your goals and now you are set up for life. What next? We will assume that you will live out the rest of your days enjoying the fruits of your endeavours. Hold on a minute, you are set up for life but now we are talking about your death. So being set up for life is only a temporary situation.

Regrettably, many people make good provisions for their life in this scene; however they make no preparation whatever for where they will spend eternity. What does the title of this blog post say? 'Failure to prepare is preparing to fail'.

So where will you spend eternity? What preparations have you made for your eternal dwelling place? Is there an afterlife? Yes, there is definitely an afterlife! The true and living God has revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures that there is (a) Heaven and (b) the Lake of Fire. The Heaven of heavens is where God dwells and reigns. The Lake of Fire is where all the ungodly sinners end up. It is a place of eternal torment.

If you want to be in Heaven in a place of love, joy and eternal happiness, then you need to be redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. In our day and age the only way to Heaven is through His salvation for you. That's why He died on that cross at Calvary. It was to pay the penalty of your sins. His blood that was shed there at Calvary has tremendous power with God. It is Christ's shed blood that enables God to forgive you yours sins - past - present - and future. Receive the Lord Jesus Christ today as your Lord and Saviour and you are guaranteed a place in Heaven with Him. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.

It's your choice! You can choose salvation, redemption and eternity with Christ, or you can choose Hell and the Lake of Fire. I know which eternal destination I chose - eternity with Christ.

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]