The Meaning Of Forgiveness

Onces a wicked man.Everyday, he would do bad things.He would lie, cheat, steal, and even hurt others if he wanted to.Everyone in this town feared, and hated him so.

One day, a Pastor happened to visit the town and heard about him.The Pastor decided to meet the man.He told the man about Jesus and how Jesus loves the man even though he has done bad things."How is that possible?", the man thought to himself.Touched by the words of God and stories about Jesus, the man listened to the Priest.

Man:"I've done bad things.I've sinned greatly.Is it possible that even one such as I is still loved by God?"

Pastor (warmly):"He despises the sin, not the sinner.You, He loves very much."

The man decided to repent, and asked to be a disciple.From then on, he followed the Pastor to learn more about Jesus and the things he does.

A few years later, the man came back to his hometown.He was to apologize to all the people he had done wrong.Yet the people of the city did not welcome him.

He tried to convince them that he is a different man now, that he had repented and was now following the footsteps of Jesus.He asked them for forgiveness.

But the townpeople hated him so much, they would not forgive.No matter what the man said, the people refused to forgive him.

They kicked the man out of his town, disregarding his earnest intention to make amends.

Saddened and heartbroken, the man left the town.

:"Have I not changed my ways?I thought if Jesus forgives me, they would too", said the man with great sorrow.

The pastor replied softly, "when you repented, all your sins are forgiven and God will no longer remember them.But that does not mean that the pain you caused others by doing what you did would disappear from their hearts.These are the consequences that you might still have to shoulder, as the result of your wrongdoings in the past."

"People need to forgive, and even though you are a new man now, the pain you caused them might remain.Besides repentance, you also have the responsibility to fix the things you broke as many as you can."

"Be strong and do not lose your sincerity, even if they ultimately choose not to forgive you.By deciding to repent and to change your ways, you have won one of your battles.To forgive and let go of the pain is a battle that others need to win too."

CONCLUSION:When you make mistakes, you might not only affect your life, but others' as well...And sometimes, even when you decided to let go of the past, others cannot.

There are consequences to the choices you made in the past and you cannot run from it.. This is your responsibility, as the one who made the mistakes that cost others their lifes.