Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday November 2, 2011

While cleaning up the corrections suggested by the editor for my hopefully soon to be released book, Outrageous Forgiveness In 30 Days I noticed a statement by an unknown village chieftain concerning the forgiveness extended to returning villagers many of whom had been kidnapped and forced to fight with rebels who had taught these children to rape and murder their own people.

The statement carries a wealth of hope and a load of condemnation for we water lily Christians in America when it comes to the truth of forgiveness. This biblically sound man said when asked about freely forgiving those who had participated in the genocide in Uganda:

"We cannot undo yesterday. We must use today for a safer tomorrow."

Is there anyway we count the time wasted in attempting to undo yesterday? Years ago Dr. Peale taught that we must learn to replace "If only" with the more sensible "Next time" and go on with living. The Bible has much to say on the subject.

May I ask you a personal question? Anything in your yesterdays that is undoable? I thought so. The grand truth of the scripture is that the things that cannot be undone can and should be forgiven. And this forgiveness should be accepted by you and by the person or persons who are victims. Christ demonstrated this principle on the cross with his familiar, "Father, forgive them." Luke 23:34.

If we really believe Romans 8:28 which states "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." then it stands to reason that as in the case of Job, whatever form our victimhood takes, it is God's will giving us an opportunity to demonstrate Christlikeness. So easy to preach.

Forgetting yesterday and using today to create a better tomorrow makes more sense to me than whining about what has been. To focus on the good that can be is more exhilarating and certainly more profitable in every area of our life of walking with Jesus.

The idea expressed by the chieftain living in the bush of Uganda is near a paean of praise as it is written out in Philippians 3:13-14;

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Forgetting, reaching. These two words can make a world of difference depending on which you focus. The choice of focus is for you to make.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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