Looking at the news for the anniversary of the Port Arthur Massacre I wonder how much forgiveness do we need? I spoke to a christian at work about it recently and he said "there's a nice space in hell for that man."
Is everyone saveable? Where is the threshold where we decide someones sin is too much? Does God have a threshold?
Evil may be absolute (based on Jesus' standards) but is salvation and forgiveness also finite? Is God's grace big enough to cover any and all sin? What is that scripture which says that?
I read recently a saying "don't criticise a mans harvest if you have not seen the seed". I dont know Martin's sin. I dont know my wife's sin. I dont fully understand their seeds. But I know that God does, his grace can cover them all, and everyone is saveable! I am living proof of that.
So, could I forgive a man like Martin Bryant if he did something to my family? I dont know. I have not faced that spiritual challenge yet. I hope I could. I hope I could forgive and try to save him for Christ.
2 comments:
lost that comment now have to try again...
i don't get that saying 'don't criticise a man's harvest if yo have not seen the seed'...are you talking about seeds or weeds?
Because you can tell what seed was planted by the harvest...whether it was good or bad...if the seed died then you will only see weeds...but if a seed is planted on a solid foundation, and establishes deep roots on this fertile ground than it will overcome any weeds Satan sows along side the seed.
But some seeds don't have that foundation, don't have deep roots and so the weeds overwhelm it and you only see a harvest of weeds.
Can you plse explain.
As for you not knowing my sins...you only need ask me...i have nothing to hide from you.
I'm forgiven of these sins, and knowing my sins makes the LORD's grace even more amazing. Every day the LORD forgives us. But those big huge sins that we thought were so shameful and impossible to forgive are just the same to the LORD as those little white lies and half truths that we tell everyday...his standards are so above our standards that sin is sin to him.
He can forgive a man who thinks he has not sinned as equally as a man who knows his crimes are horrific and deserves punishment. His grace is sufficient for everyone.
You can tell the seed by the harvest...that's true...but what if the seed he is given is small. what if others have piled crap on it?
Reminds me of the scripture about the woman who gives a few coins (all she has) versus the man who gives more (but its just loose change to him).
What is someone is so abused, crapped on, hated, ignored, does not know the Lord and overcomes all his fears to show a little love. Is that battle bigger than ours? Bigger than a loved, cherished, supported Nun running a home for orphans?
The Lord alone knows what battles we need to overcome. That's why we cannot be judges.
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