Too often believers forget that we were not created to be slaves, but
sons and daughters of the Most High. In Christ we are truly set free,
and we are only burdened when we allow ourselves to be.
One of
the worst burdens that many experience is unforgiveness. Someone does us
wrong, and we want this person to suffer for his actions. We don't
realize that we have put ourselves in a torture chamber, reliving the
hurt over and over. We have become slaves to unforgiveness.
This
yoke of slavery can be broken as well. After all, didn't Jesus assure
us: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36,
NIV2)? The problem is that many among us don't want to be set free.
Many of us have seen the movie or read the book entitled "Unbroken."
This story is about the life of Louie Zamperini, who was in a Japanese
concentration camp during World War II. For two years he was singled out
by the one in charge of the camp for vicious procedures of torture. Day
in and day out he lived in a real hell. Somehow, however, he never gave
in. He remained unbroken.
Once the war was over and he was able
to go back to his home in California, Louie had continuous nightmares
about his experiences of imprisonment. Trying to forget his past, he
started to drink heavily. Unfortunately it didn't work. In 1949, he
discovered the power of the gospel when he attended a Billy Graham
crusade in his hometown. He overcame alcoholism as well as his
nightmares from the past, and his marriage was restored thanks to the
freedom of the Gospel.
There was only one more thing to be done.
He felt deeply that he had to return to Japan. He wanted to face his
former persecutors and forgive them in person. Unfortunately, the high
commander refused to meet him. The others, however, were completely
astonished that he was willing to forgive them, even after all the pain
they had inflicted upon him.
Imagine facing your former
persecutors. Would we have been able to forgive them? Especially if we
had been tortured by them so much that it brought us to the point that
we wanted to die? Nonetheless, it had to be done, and by forgiving them
in person, Louie was set free. He left Japan joyful, for he was now
truly free. Gone were the nightmares. Gone was his addiction. Instead he
was now experiencing refreshing freedom through the merits of Jesus, the
Christ.
We can be free too. If we wish to remain in the torture
cell of unforgiveness, this is our choice; but just imaging being able
to enjoy life instead of muttering and complaining about the past. It is
something to truly hunger for.
Rob Chaffart
