Bearing the Cost

In Hannah Hurnard’s wonderful allegory, Hinds Feet on High Places, at one point as the main character Much Afraid travels through the desert, she comes upon a flower growing and blooming in the crack of a rock. Through no fault of it’s own, the seed was abandoned to that dry, lonely place to bloom alone. When she asks the flower’s name, it replies, “My name is Bearing the Cost, but some call me Forgiveness.”

Hannah Hurnard offers some real wisdom here. To forgive means we intentionally choose to bear within our lives the consequences of the actions of those who have harmed us. We often resist this inevitable result because, like much of life in a fallen world, it seems so unfair. What we often don't realize is that, because we cannot change the past, we inevitably bear these consequences whether we choose to forgive or not.

The problem is, when unforgiveness is given residence in the human heart, it does not remain static. It functions much like a computer virus operating behind the scenes. We may be unaware of its destructive forces, but it is far from harmless. It has gone underground where it evolves, infects and hardens our heart. Occasionally we become aware of its presence as when, in unsuspecting moments, we find ourselves thinking, dwelling on and rehearsing the wrongs we have experienced.

To forgive or not decides the question of whether bearing these consequences will poison our personalities, or build our character. Unforgiveness confers upon these experiences the power to destroy. Forgiveness on the other hand opens the way for these very circumstances to become for us a source of strength and healing.

When we walk in unforgiveness, we nurture the desire that the offender be punished. Walking in unforgiveness ultimately transforms us into one who, on some level, has made the punishment of another human being a priority. Our added powerlessness to achieve our own personal version of justice only intensifies this burden. The human personality was not created to bear this weight without experiencing serious internal damage.

As Jesus has reminded us, unforgiveness and hypocrisy are inseparably connected. The unjust steward of the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18 demonstrates the irony of our being forgiven a huge debt, only to demand justice over what is ultimately a small matter. It is impossible to condemn another without also condemning ourselves. We can’t demand “justice” for our “enemy,” while at the same time personally asking for mercy.

On the positive side, by choosing to forgive we release a series of blessings...

Forgiveness says…I choose to bear the injustice of another, walking in the path of Jesus who took upon Himself injustice, bearing the effects of the sins of the whole world.

Forgiveness says… I choose to humble myself. I choose to give up my “rights.” I choose to walk in sacrificial obedience to God’s Word.

Forgiveness says…I am placing myself squarely in God’s hands knowing that forgiveness is an act of faith in the God who works all things together for good.

Forgiveness says…“I identify with sinful humanity. I know that as surely as I have to bear the effects of the sins of others, others also have also had to bear the effects of my sins.

Forgiveness says…As I myself have been offered mercy, I too choose to offer mercy instead of wrath, knowing that God Himself is the only righteous judge.

In the book of Genesis Joseph was able to declare to his brothers, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” In this statement Joseph revealed his conviction that God could be trusted to accomplish His purpose through the good and through the bad. If Joseph had held on to unforgiveness, he likely would have become so bitter and vengeful he would have been unfit to rule in Egypt.