Beyond your wildest dreams is the extent to which the mercy of God reaches. But how far can it reach? How far can one be forgiven of his or her wrong doing? Guilt is one sense is a Jail Sentence. Imprisoned within the walls of one’s fault. After stealing another man’s wife, David the King confessed in a Psalm (51:3) “My sin is ever before me”. One of the most celebrated Preachers Charles Spurgeon stated “The Lord’s mercy is a sea which cannot be filled, though mountains of sin be cast into its midst.” On a recent trip this year to the Iwawa island found in Lake Kivu, is a rehabilitation centre for hundreds of young men who were previously drug and alcohol abuse cases. I heard there one of the most amazing slogans. “Guhinduka, birashoboka! Uwahoze ari Sauli yahindutse Pawulo”. Translated; “Change, is possible! One who was once Saul, became Paul”. This possibility and power of transformation these young men were speaking of is about a Bible character who was once a persecutor of Christians who rose to become Paul, a carrier of the very same faith he sought to destroy. Who later said these words “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all”. 1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB) Sometimes we may feel guilty of the unforgivable but the Bible speaks of God’s mercy which can forgive that which we feel and perceive to be unforgivable. This contrast between our shortcomings and God’s mercy should always keep us in awe of how much love God offers to us. In the story of Jesus at the Cross, Charles Spurgeon, gives us the picture of such contrast. “How startled they must have been to hear such words from one who was about to be put to death for a supposed crime! The men that drove the nails, the men that lifted up the tree, must have been startled back with amazement when they heard Jesus talk to God as his Father, and pray for them: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Did ever Roman legionary hear such words before? I should say not. They were so distinctly and diametrically opposed to the whole spirit of Rome. Theirs was blow for blow; only in the case of Jesus they gave blows where none had been received. The crushing cruelty of the Roman must have been startled indeed at such words as these, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:33-34 (ESV). As we seek Mercy for our faults, we should approach God with this picture in mind, that He is willing to go to a cross, just to forgive us. The writer is Training Secretary, Groupes Bibliques Universitaires du Rwanda (GBUR/FES – Rwanda)
