Today, we are addressing myth number four: Some things are too big to forgive. The basis of everything we do in forgiveness is this: God asks us to be forgiving because He has forgiven us so much. We have freely received His forgiveness, so He wants us to freely forgive others.
The Scale of Wickedness
But then we run into a problem. Terrible things take place in this world — incredibly wicked, evil, and tragic things. Some things truly seem too big to forgive. We think, "They hurt me so bad. They were so evil and unrepentant. They didn't care what they did to me." We see rapes, murders, and civil wars tearing countries apart. It is natural to say, "Come on — there are things that are just too wicked to be forgiven." However, I say they must be forgiven because Jesus commands it. Our forgiveness is not based on fairness; it is based on God.
The Standard of the Cross
How many sins did Jesus die for? According to the Bible, He died for the sins of the whole world — every single one. Is there any sin too big for His blood to cover? Does He have a sliding scale where He forgives "medium" sins but draws the line at "extra-large"? The point is clear: if a person comes to Him with true repentance, He forgives every sin. Since Jesus is our standard, if He can forgive, we can forgive.
Turning Over the Avenger Role
You might ask: "What if they don't repent?" We are still called to forgive. When we forgive, we are turning that person over to God. We are letting Him be our Avenger, trusting that He will take care of the justice that needs to be served. Consider this: if Adolf Hitler had been captured and truly repented, would God have forgiven him? He was responsible for the deaths of 50 million people. The Bible says yes — the blood of Jesus bore the sins of the entire world, which is a weight far greater than even his crimes.
Biblical Examples of Radical Mercy
Manasseh was one of the most wicked kings in Israel's history. He rebuilt pagan altars, set up idols in the Lord's temple, and even sacrificed his own children in the fire. Yet when he was captured and humbled himself in prison, God saw his repentant heart, forgave him, and restored him to his throne.
Nebuchadnezzar was a proud emperor who thought he was a god. God humbled him until he lived like a wild animal for seven years. When he finally acknowledged the one true God, his mind and kingdom were restored.
The Assyrians were some of the most brutal people in history. When Jonah preached to them, the entire nation repented, and God repented from destroying them.
Is the Blood Enough?
When we say something is "too big" to forgive, we are actually questioning whether the blood of Jesus is enough. For me, the blood of Jesus is the basis of all forgiveness. Because He forgave me, I can forgive others. If it feels too difficult to handle alone, remember that God is an ever-present help. He doesn't just provide the command — He provides the strength and the ability to release people.
A Prayer for the Impossible
Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that You help my friend right now to grab hold of Your promises. Give them the strength to forgive. It may seem impossible, but You are the God of the impossible. Help them release these burdens in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
If it feels too heavy to do on your own, find a friend to walk through it with you. Get it out, finish it, and be released.
