The Pit of Unforgiveness

Haven’t we all at onetime or another been unjustly wronged, hurt or let down in some way? Often we can be left with no way to resolve or come to terms with the powerful emotions that can accompany such painful experiences.

To be wronged by a stranger can sting but to be wronged by a loved one, so much the more. For having privileged access into the heart where all checks and balances have been laid aside they have broken the covenant of love. And with all defences laid down at the gate, entering in they have not rejected the armour of lies offered to the World, but seeing the heart laid bare have rejected the very person. And with no time to call to arms the old defences, unhindered a barbed spear pierces the very heart.

These powerful emotions are very real indeed and can not be simply wished away. If not dealt with quickly and decisively they have the potential to bring about the fall, disgrace and ruin of a person, for such traumas are the opportune moments the enemy awaits seeking access into a person’s life. For unable to come to terms with the injustice suffered and encouraged by the evil one’s suggestive ‘fiery darts’ we seek our own justice.

Yet justice perverted blossoms into revenge and revenge when fully grown brings forth the rotten fruits of hatred which manifest in numerous ways, from a bitter mannerism, depression, every addiction and begetting sin even to the horrors of murder.

And let us not imagine that we alone can harbour hatred’s presence in our lives and be spared it’s poisonous effects, doesn’t grit in the eye effect the whole body? Then how much more will brooding hatred trouble the afflicted soul and poison ones life? As leaven hid in a measure of dough leavens the whole lump so will hatred darken the perspective of every area of one’s life. Can a spring bring forth both fresh and bitter water?

No, neither can a person express true love whilst being comforted in the deep waters of hatred. It is a spy in the camp, a saboteur amongst the people and the soft words of a traitor to the King. Nor let us think that we can express the full range of emotions once enjoyed having chosen the balm of hatred to subdue our pain. For as a small child among friends refrains from sharing his shaken bottle of pop in the home, least opening it he spoils the furniture and suffering shame and rebuke before all, is disgraced. So too those who nurture unresolved pain with unforgiveness... fear to share any real emotion lest pouring out uncontrollably, they too bring shame and disgrace upon themselves.

There is a roundabout near a small town where I live, should I turn left there, although not immediately in the town of King’s Lynn, should I continue along that path eventually I shall reach my destination. Had I turned right there, I should note many a landmark on my journey that should inform me of my progress towards the city of Norwich, and finally... seeing the last of them as I pass by I shall reach my journey’s end. So it is for the soul who has chosen the way of hatred as their destination and revenge as a stronghold, passing by the landmarks of obsession, despair, addiction and strife they being grievously wounded press on. And so it is for those who have chosen hatred as their fortress, for hatred is sin and sin when fully grown leads to death.

Sin may bring quick, temporary relief, but still it’s end is death, and many signposts of misery there are to bare upon that path.

Oh, how easy it is to choose the road of hatred, what instant comfort... what power! Able to trample our God given conscience, with it’s cold touch it frees us from all the restraints that once ordered our lives, and transforming our heart into the heart of a fool, we throwing off all counsel step willingly into the cruel snares of the wicked one. “To hell with it, I’m going to have that drink, those drugs, an affair”. And like a dog who returns to his own vomit so the fool to his old sins

Seemingly safe behind hatred’s iron walls we realise only too late that rather than offering protection, it has become our prison!

As with Satan, evil spirits come seeking to steal, kill and destroy. Constantly devising ways to gain authority over our lives they seek to tempt us into obeying them rather than the promptings of God or a God given conscience.

Sin is the breaking of God’s law and in doing so they bring upon the disobedient soul the wrath of the Law. A wicked Spirit is only at rest in a tormented soul and if cast out he himself suffers torment, therefore he will fight to gain access and fight all the more to remain. Although a man may through sheer will-power temporarily throw off the yoke of bondage, most often the sin will return worse than before. And though the bondage of one wicked Spirit may be replaced with another... the second will torment all the more.

There are many cruel traps laid by the wicked one and as a fox caught in the trapper’s snare screams out in agony as he chews off his own leg seeking release, so too does the snared soul, abuse and lash out upon himself and those dear to him. For doesn’t even an injured dog in his suffering bite at the arm of his master should he step in to help? And so does the injured and tormented soul drive away his friends and companions that were once close to him.

I have seen many go through horrible months, and even years of fiery trials not of their own making, most that survive such painful journeys stagger out of the other end burnt, bitter and so poisoned by the hatred they had held onto for comfort and strength, that a shadow cloaks them like a garment all the days of their miserable lives. But few there are that step out of those flames refined, purified and free. Though both may enter the same fiery trial, each seeking his own way to endure makes a decision that once taken... will either bless or curse all them all the days they hold firm to that course.

Although we have seen that the way of unforgiveness is but a trap, a lie and a terror where should one find the strength to carry on? For as burns cry out for balm and deep wounds for stitches, so the broken hearted for restoration and the wronged justice. None suffering such gaping wounds and shattered lives can endure for long without the means to sustain them.

And with the suggestive spirits circling as vultures over the pathetic carcass of a broken life, they tempt and suggest until the poor weary soul, seeing the deceptive comforts offered succumb to their promptings. Cloaked now in cold steel that none can penetrate, they feel nothing... neither love nor pain, and placing on the helmet of hatred their mind is changed, and so stepping out on to that dark, cold and bitter path they find the strength to endure.

And what of those who we have yet to touched upon... who have suffered unspeakable injustices, seen unimaginable horrors and suffered beyond comprehending? Is unforgiveness the only option or as many should say, even justified?

Well, I would like to tell you of another way, though it is a battle as the vile enemies of God will resist you, for bringing forth from their armouries the mighty weapons of lies, anger, and shame... some taking offence shall succumb and walk away. For terrified those vile entities know full well that if you should see with your eyes, hear with your ears and understand with your heart you shall be set free and they cast out, for God would heal you.

Let us consider for a moment, Jesus... who came to those whom He loved that they might be saved (The Jews), whom they rejected. And though He spoke the gracious words of life and truth they chose rather to take offence. Thus comforting themselves with the suggestive lies of the evil one, as do many... gave themselves over to hatred. Who broke Jewish law that they might arrest, judge and condemned the Son of God. Whom they stripped naked, beat, mocked and tearing out His beard with their own hands, publicly nailed to a tree (Cross) to die in humiliation.

Yet how was it that this man Jesus, in agony, fear and suffering deep shame, called out to His Father in Heaven and cried...

And what of Stephen, whose gracious words fell upon those who... with their pride hurt, chose rather to take offence than listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but pulling away the shoulder... turned to trample a God given conscience that they might be free to obeyed the ‘god of this age’ and stone Stephen, who in the same spirit as His Lord before him, cried out...

And in like manner, by the same spirit of grace do millions of Christians today, as in times past suffer such mockery, beatings and death. Who rather than cursing their persecutors, enduring injustice trusting wholly in Him who has said...

How is it then, that those of us who by the same spirit that in dwelt Jesus are able to endure such injustice, yet not harbour unforgiveness within our hearts, nor turn to the deceptive comforts offered by the wicked one? Is it not by faith, and by faith alone in the God who will judge the living and the dead?

For we who believe, by faith look towards a New Heaven and a New Earth where righteousness dwells, having our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and His promises towards us, we find we are able to endure. For we who know Him and trust in His gracious Words know that He alone is righteous and that no injustice bestowed upon us goes unnoticed. However, we who by the same Spirit that stayed Stephen also cry out “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”. For as he, knowing of the terrifying wrath to come and of the horrors of Hell seek not revenge but that all may come to a knowledge of the truth that they might be saved.

For God is a God of justice, and death will not hide nor swallow-up the sins of the wicked, as many have supposed. For He who judges the living and the dead neither sleeps nor slumbers and in no way will requite the wicked, but searches the heart daily, for all will give an account to Him with whom they have their concern. For it is through faith in the promises of God that a man may endure such temptation, and it is upon His Word (promises) that they are stayed. For who among you has not found comfort and peace in time of need because of the promise of a faithful friend? How much more then will the Christian, knowing the faithfulness of God find peace and the strength to endure in times of need.

And so it is by faith, and faith alone... not of any but of God, that a man may endure tribulation, and it is by faith that a man is justified. For having faith in the righteous life lived by Jesus, a life that we have failed to live, that we sinners are made righteous. And it is through this very same faith in His death, a death that we owe and should have paid... that we are justified and saved from an eternity in Hell.

For it is this very same faith in the precious promises of God do we now fix our gaze... seeing past the temporal tribulations of this short life, we who know Him are being changed day by day... into the likeness of the author of our salvation, His Son Jesus the Christ. For as a child is calmed and stayed at the promises of a loving father on Earth, all the more the Christian by the eternal and sure promises of a faithful God, who abides not on the Earth but in the Heavens.

For without a knowledge of God, a man can not have faith, for who can trust in Him who He does not know? And without a knowledge of the truth the lost see only this temporal World and so fight, steal, backbite and hate submitting to the spirit of the ‘god of this age’ whom they serve.

But what of the poor soul that has suffered more horror and injustice than any mind can comprehend, at the hands of such monsters such as the Nazis, Pol Pot, violent rapists, mass murderers, cruel sadistic perverts, robbers of souls and the likes of Nero? Have no joy in this but know for a surety that... unless repented of (of which I know of none that have), such people having no covering for their heinous crimes will be cast into an Hell where their torment will fit their crime. Such horror they thought upon others they will receive double with no end... in an everlasting Hell prepared for Satan and his angels.

But knowing the fallen nature of mankind and the cunning reasoning of the wicked one, I know full well the thoughts of many who will say... “So the Christian endures much... for delighting in the knowledge that the wicked will be cast into an everlasting Hell, he is satisfied”. Why then Jesus, who in agony cried out “Father forgive them” and Stephen in like manner “lay not this sin to their charge”, and of the Christian too, who willingly suffers shame and rebuke, missionaries slaughtered and multitudes though trembling in fearful apprehension before the violent and brutish, witness Christ crucified, if it is so that we so delight in the destruction of the wicked? Is it not rather that... having being saved out of such like vile affections and cruel bondages of the wicked one, having compassion we wish to lead others from the damnations of Hell? For of all that walk today upon this Earth there is none as the Christian who understands his sin, for it is the Christian and the Christian alone that nailed Christ to the Cross. For that He suffered such shame and humiliation, He suffered for us who believe. It is God who judges and acts in the affairs of the living that all may take note and turn from their wickedness, but woe betide the man who refuses and rejects the gracious payment for their sin.

In the Gospel of John we have recorded an event where some self righteous Jews wishing to have something to accuse Jesus, dragged before Him a women caught in the very act of adultery. Knowing of Jesus’ mercy, they caring not for the women hoped that Jesus would break the Law of Moses by setting her at liberty... that they may have something to Him accuse Him of before the council.

But Jesus forced them to look into their own hearts when He said...

Then something unexpected happened...

And so, those self righteous Jews being convicted by their conscience, seeing the hypocrisy of their own darkened hearts, now illuminated by the Words of Jesus... considered, and escaping the murderous intentions of the god whom they had unwittingly served, walked away.

And what of you, who have held such unforgiveness towards another, will you as those Jews stop to consider?

Or holding on to your self righteousness say that you alone have no sin? Do you lust in your heart to envy? Are you so deceived that you have reasoned away that for lusts sake you have lied, cheated and pierced the heart of another to fulfil your own selfish gain? Have you not slandered, hated, back stabbed, robbed, cheated and hurt the helpless, bullied, mocked and found pleasure in the torment of the weak and the feeble? Joyed when speaking evil of others, joining hands with the wicked to concoct vile plans against the innocent?
No, really? Then, have you harboured such in your heart? Nurtured jealousy, hatred and envy towards others, coveting their husband, wife, children or their belongings... and find pleasure in the vile imaginations of wickedness that defile your very soul! For these things are not from God but of the flesh and the deceptive spirit that reigns in hearts of the lost. All these things men do but yet will you still say, “I have done no wrong, I alone am good, faithful and true”.

Until Jesus appears offences shall come, this we can not change but we ourselves can change. Now knowing these things shall we continue to hate harbouring unforgiveness in our hearts, or rather... by faith in Him who justifies the wicked, turn from such base and defiling offences to serve the living God?