“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV
As long as there’s breath to seek God, there’s an opportunity to find Him and thus be forgiven (Jeremiah 29:13). We should never give anyone the impression that God’s love can be exhausted. The depths of God’s grace are not to be measured by our thoughts and feelings; rather, God alone determines the length of time in which the door of salvation will remain open. In other words, it’s not for us to condemn anyone, but to simply walk in love. Of course, that’s not to suggest that we ought to tolerate the presence of evil. Indeed, we must abhor that which stands against Jesus Christ, casting it out from our midst. Nevertheless, we must be careful not to cast any away for whom Jesus died; for just as we who believe in Him are precious to God, so also is every other human being precious to God; even our enemies.
“for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” – Matthew 5:45 KJV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 KJV
Each person should be regarded as though they were a mission field of opportunity with whom to share Jesus Christ. Imagine that! Yet don’t just imagine it; put it into practice! But remember, God calls us to be lights, not lightning bolts. Therefore don’t condemn, but love instead. You know, I suspect that many will be surprised to see people in heaven whom they were certain were headed for hell, and many more who are certain that they’re going to heaven will be shocked to discover that the lake of fire awaits them. Take caution therefore, to guard your thoughts and actions against a prideful spirit. For the devil is a great deceiver, and he can overpower anyone who lets their guard down for but a moment, putting them on a path that leads to destruction.
Live as though there’s only one last breath to do what’s right before God. For you don’t know the day or hour when Jesus will return; nor do you know when you will breathe your last breath. Do you have hatred in your heart for someone? Seek to mend that relationship! Do you know someone who has hatred in their heart for you? Seek to mend that relationship! It’s not for us to know the day or hour when Jesus will return; nor is it for us to determine the fate of any soul. Nevertheless, it is for us to know how God wants us to live; for He is not silent on this matter. Some people act as though they have all eternity to make right what they’ve done wrong to others. They seem to think that they can get to it later, while not realizing that that time may never come. Don’t put off what you know you ought to begin doing right now. Rather, embrace God’s love and show the world what it means to walk even as Jesus walked. Forgive!
