The Whiteboard Of Forgiveness

A few years back, I had an interesting, embarrassing, and annoying experience. I was coming from a church meeting one night with several ladies, and we happened to be standing by the side of the road. I was too close to the road, I must … Read more

Isaiah 43:25 – I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (KJV)

A few years back, I had an interesting, embarrassing, and annoying experience. I was coming from a church meeting one night with several ladies, and we happened to be standing by the side of the road. I was too close to the road, I must confess, pressing my phone. One of the ladies tapped me and told me to put my phone somewhere till we were off the road. I had yet to comply when the passenger of a passing bicycle slapped me right across the face. The strength of that slap, supplemented by the speed of the bicycle, brought instantaneous tears to my eyes.

I wasn't crying, but my stinging eyes were dripping with tears. At that moment, I was angry, infuriated, and embarrassed that the ladies had to see me at that moment of helplessness. I wanted to hit and curse the culprit, or just do something to repair my tattered dignity (so I thought), but I discovered that I didn't have anywhere to direct my anger because I didn't have a mental picture of the person who had slapped me. The whiteboard of my mind was blank.

How does this relate to you? In today's verse, God tells us that He would not remember our sins, not because of old age, amnesia, or tiredness, but because of His mercy. So, God tells us that once we repent, all our sins of the past are totally forgotten. If God can choose not to remember our sins, no matter how terrible, how much more should you and I forgive those who wrong us! He chooses intentionally to forget, so why can't we? We have held on to the erroneous belief that forgiveness doesn't go along with forgetting, but God has shown us how important it is to choose to forget. Just like cleaning a whiteboard, everything formerly written on it is totally cleared off. That is true forgiveness.

God also said something important in our key text: "I … am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake". This shows us that forgiving and forgetting is not just for the other party, but for our own sake. At times, the other party may not feel remorseful or repentant, but for your own mental and spiritual sake, forgive. Holding onto anger and hate will torment you, gradually destroy you, and alienate you from God.

Are you angry? Do you feel justified in your anger? Make your mind like a whiteboard, wipe off your resentment from the whiteboard, and be free from your anger and shame.

Prayer: Spirit of the living God, help me to forgive and forget. Amen.