Wolves, by nature, are predators. They attack sheep. It is foolishness to hate a wolf for being a wolf and it is equally foolish to allow a wolf into a sheep pen.
Over the winter break, my children exposed me to the game, “Trivia Crack”. I have really enjoyed playing and have found it to be as addictive as its name suggests. One of the latest history questions I was given was to finish this Martin Luther King quote:
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of…”
One of the multiple-choice answers was, “Their souls”.
Although incorrect, this was a great answer. It seemed totally fitting that a man so focused on peace would show mercy to his enemies by realizing that the harsh and vicious words from the mouths of his enemies were the manifestations of a sickness of the soul. When souls and hearts are not filled with love, it is only natural for hateful words and lies to come spewing out.
We live in a world full of enemies and wolves that attack, slash and growl. There will always be wolves, but it is wasted energy to hate the wolf for being a wolf. We should hate how the wolf bites, wounds and attacks the lamb, but what is the point in hating the wolf? The wolf is only following its natural instinct. In the same manner, we should hate the sin while loving the sinner. Healing begins by NOT remembering the words of our enemies. We cannot let false accusations and threats define who we are or steal our joy.
I read a post on Facebook recently that dealt with the process of forgiveness. Craig Strickland, the founding pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis said this:
I’m struck by the fact that a lot of us have people living rent free in our heads. Somebody has done something so wrong to you that there is no way to make it right: an apology, jail time, making amends, reimbursing you …nothing will make you whole. So you think about their heinous crime all the time. They’re living rent free in your head…. Forgiving another person means ‘letting them go’-not because they deserve it but because it’s the best way to be free of them. And don’t think you can say, “I forgive you” once and then you’re over it. You’ll probably have to say it over and over…and like the waves on the beach, you’ll feel free a little at a time. Eventually they won’t live rent free in your head anymore. And don’t confuse forgiveness with trust. You can forgive and still not trust the person who has wronged you.
We forgive because we are forgiven, and we move on. We learn from adversity, but we don’t have to immerse ourselves in it. For the safety of the sheep, the shepherd keeps them away from the wolves. A loving shepherd never asks a sheep to set up a little sheep hut next to a wolf’s den.
The apostle Paul, who suffered all kinds of attacks and persecution, was a champion of rejoicing through suffering. He glorified the Lord while languishing through beatings, imprisonment, mockery, snakebites and shipwrecks, but I am sure that he never stood in a ship yard while trying to figure out which boat to board and said, “Hey. Put me on the worst boat with lots of broken beams and holes. Be sure I am chained up on it with baton bearing thugs who hate me…. And while you’re at it, throw some poisonous snakes in the basement with me.”. Paul rejoiced in his appointment to suffer, but he never foolishly went out looking for danger.
When we have been put through the ringer and are recovering from the attack of the wolf, there is a beautiful opportunity to reveal our faith and trust in our Great Shepherd. Forgiveness is hard work and when faced with the process of forgiving, I know that it is beyond me to get to that place by sheer will-power. When I try to do what is right or heal my own broken heart, I always end up concentrating on the wolf or on my pain. When I do this, I have a bitter and wounded countenance.
When I let go of my pain and allow Jesus to mend and heal, I can see the path to joy. When I live by faith and trust God with my situation, I am much quicker to understand peace. When I cry out, “Abba, Father”, I know He listens, heals, protects, and delights in my prayer. The Shepherd knows that the lamb is defenseless against the wolf. The Shepherd is the only one capable of protecting the lamb. With Jesus as my shepherd, I can move forward knowing that the beauty of God is on me and that He will establish the work my heart needs to cultivate in my longing for forgiveness.
We are all called to forgive. I am confident that everyone reading this has found forgiveness to be a challenge. We are guaranteed victory. Because we have been forgiven, we are being conformed to Christ. We do not have to “remember the words of our enemies”. We must remember how much we have been forgiven.
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 (NKJV)
“…The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you…” 1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV)
“…Work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)