POCKET SERMON 1: IS OUR FORGIVENESS UNFAIR? By Rev Barbara Sexton

POCKET SERMON 1: IS OUR FORGIVENESS UNFAIR???

Take this little sermonette, print it and share it!  Is our concept of Christian forgiveness 'unfair' in a sense?  I've been asked this question several times and have had to defend the very concept of the forgiveness of the Lord.  This may sound incredible, but some resent the very fact that we, as Christians, can--in theory at least--wait up until the very last minute of our earthly life, having a grand old time and doing bad--and then BAM!!!  We can get on our knees and pray for forgiveness and all's well and that's THAT!  And we end up in HEAVEN! with ALL the people who struggled their whole lives to behave as God would have them!

That doesn't sound....RIGHT...does it?

Well...it is, in theory, anyway.  Yes, it is possible to lead a life not so pleasing to God and then at the last minute on our deathbeds to repent and be forgiven and to go to Heaven.  This is the truth.  Implicit in this is the concept that one does, indeed, consider Jesus to be his/her personal Savior ....that one does truly desire change (even at the last minute)....that one is truly repentent (that is, is really, really, sorry)....and that one can withstand God's scrutiny.  But, is this such a good idea and way to go?

What if you are UNABLE to repent at the last minute due to...I don't know...a COMA or something???  And what if there is a glitch of some sort, as in an inability to pass the sniff test of TRUTH at that last minute?  Then, finally, what about the concept the world knows as 'karma'?  What about all that built-up 'bad karma' surrounding last-minute repentent types?  How is the whole of the existence to be balanced out in a case like this, I ask you?

My answers for those who care to read them are:

1)  Truly repentent last-minute Christians are a true blessing to all when they are forgiven by the Lord.  Now, since we can never really completely know the mind of God....nor the intentions of the sorry one....it is best to assume the best in others and worry about our own states of grace and leave it at that.  God is very smart and He makes all things right!

2)  We must not forget that God desires that ALL be saved, and we as Christians are supposed to help with that.  There are many ways to help and cheering on a new Christian certainly is one of them.  I am reminded of the Scripture verses known as 'The Parable of the Lost Sheep'.  JESUS SAYS:  “4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4-7  NIV)

I hope this Pocket Sermon helps you on your spiritual journey.  We'll revisit forgiveness and other Christian wonderments in future issues.

With Love in Christ,

Reverend Barb