Spring 1999
The Power of Forgiveness
Nancy T Warner

“Forgive, and you shall be forgiven” Luke 6:37b.

When we forgive, we make a decision to do so. But forgiveness must go beyond this decision to a change in our feelings. We can, and should, make the decision, but only the Lord can change our feelings.

Corrie Ten-Boone was a prisoner in a communist refugee camp. She not only endured the cruelty of the prison guards but witnessed the painful death of her sister under their brutality.

Years later, while Corrie was ministering on forgiveness, one of the cruelest of the prison guards in that camp came up and stood at the altar rail in front of her. Corrie's heart froze as she remembered what had happened to her sister. This guard had repented, and knew that the Lord had forgiven him, but he told Corrie that it would really help if he could hear her forgiveness also.

Corrie knew she should do this. She had noticed that those who had been in the concentration camps, and were able to forgive, were living normal lives. Not only that, but the Lord commanded that we forgive. Yet her body became like stone, and she could hardly move.

She determined to say three simple words, "I forgive you." With effort she reached out her hand to shake his, when all of a sudden the Holy Spirit flooded her. She began to cry "I forgive you, I forgive you" as she embraced the man. Corrie made the choice, God changed the heart.

I remember a situation that was very difficult for me. I felt I had come too far in the Lord to let unforgiveness settle within. I understood that nothing can hinder a life more than the root of bitterness, which in time will entangle and darken a person’s spirit.

For months I kept choosing to forgive, trying to release those involved, yet still having negative feelings. Then one day, the Lord intervened in my life as I was overwhelmed by His presence. In the “light” of His manifest presence, I saw the excellency of who He is and how He had forgiven those who crucified Him. As I saw in perspective all that the Lord was presently doing in my life, this very hurtful situation again flashed before my mind, except this time it became as nothing in the glory of His presence.

In his presence, that offense had literally been cremated inside of me, and it has never again bothered me. Later, the Lord again came, this time for hours, revealing His love. He loves those who love Him above all else, and those who seek Him shall indeed find Him.

The forgiveness that we receive, and extend to others, can be seen in Philemon, through a choice that Paul asked a person whom he had led to the Lord to make.
A servant had taken some of his master's property and run away. He came in contact with Paul and became a believer. Realizing the necessity of making this right, Paul sent this servant back to his master with a note asking that he be forgiven of his wrongs.

Here, we see every aspect of divine forgiveness duplicated in the forgiveness that Paul sought for this man. He had been unprofitable to his master, and there was offense. Yet in verse ten, Paul beseeches for his forgiveness. Paul not only made intercession for him, but offered to make a substitute payment for the debt the man owed. Paul asked that this man not only be restored, but elevated into a new relationship; that he be received not only as a servant, but now as a brother.
Paul did not justify what this man did, but he pointed out that perhaps it was for this purpose, that he might find salvation. Romans 8:28 does not tell us that all things are good. Rather it promises to work all things together for good, to them that love God and who are called according to His purpose.

On days when everything seems to be going wrong, I finally pray, “Lord, turn these things for good.” This may have been the only way the Lord could get my attention. All things do work together for good if we will but take time to look to the Lord. This will give us hope in any situation.

This man could have refused to forgive the runaway slave, but Paul reminded him that he owed his redemption to Paul as well. As we walk through life and realize how gracious the Lord has been to us, there comes a humility that makes it easier for us to forgive others. Where would any one of us be, if only perfection could please the Lord? We should never demand perfection of others, when we ourselves need grace.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven
you." Eph 4:32.

Being able to walk in the deeper truths of the Spirit becomes ultimately easy when we realize the very heart of the Gospel is simply loving God with all of our hearts, and our brother as ourselves. It is in this that we pass from death to life, entering into an out-resurrection of mere religion into a life of fellowship with the Lord. This is the key to an overcoming life.

Even as faith without works is dead, so is the profession of love without forgiveness. May our love for the Lord always be evident in our lives. This was the love that motivated Corrie to make the choice she made, and the Lord responded by manifesting His love through her.

May each of us fight the good warfare of forgiveness. If Corrie could forgive that prison guard, there is no one that you and I cannot forgive.

The choice is ours to make.