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| Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Love Thy Enemies Writer : Yang MingWhat is forgiveness? Why do we need to forgive? I asked these questions on my way home, as my mind wandered to the ever arduous understanding of forgiveness. Some people forgive for the sake of cordial relationships or believe that it has something to do with world peace. Others see it as a religious obligation. People seek forgiveness for the things they wrongly committed. As one familiar saying goes, "We cannot live in a world without offending one another". Many TV drama serials popularise forgiveness into the last episodes where the implicated parties may be seen 'walking into the sunset'. Other questions arose. Is forgiveness that difficult to fulfill? Are our hearts too hardened forgive today? There are many reasons why people love and hate in this fallen world. Reasons of wrongful accusations, grevious harm cause unforgiveness to harbour. Especially when loved ones whom we know so dear hurt us so badly. Our existence is the main source of the offence. Shakespeare wrote in 'Romeo and Juliet', "My only love comes from my only hate". If we haven't known you and me, forgiveness would be boycotted because hatred wouldn't have existed. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". I know some people who could not understand this line. They think it hypocritical to wear a friendly face while their insides seeth. The fact is hypocrisy will not last. The contempt in our hearts will not abate in peace, which is what forgiveness does. Again, I asked myself, "If God knows that all of us would love and hate each other and eventually forgive, why didn't He make perfect this world where we can greet each other without contempt?" Way before the creation of the world, God knew that the creation of man will lead to sin. They will rebel against God's law of love and hurt one another needlessly. Therefore He sent his one and only son to die for us on the cross in order for us to be able to reconcile to a relationship of pure love, albeit first and foremost with God. On the day that Jesus was crucified, two criminals hung next to him on the left and on the right. One of them asked for forgiveness and Jesus told him that he would join Him in heaven that very day when he passed away. It does take graciousness to forgive someone who hurt you. This graciousness matures when we emerge from the cocoons of childhood to want to see forgiveness multiplied for the sake of God's agenda. Because the Father loves his children, and will forgive them of everything, and will do anything to prove that. Even if his children were completely wrong and it cost him his death. That places forgiveness in a nobler perspective. Forgiveness was enabled for man to return to God. When man settles that part, forgiving his fellow men seems light in comparison, for who would ever be able to repay God? If you understood the power and freedom of forgiveness, you will never be able to hide from this hideous world, simply because the world requires this gift of healing beauty wherever it may be found. When God gave freely, he ensured it could be used freely. Have you thought of that? -- This article was first published 130405. It has been revised and edited on 270306.
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