Mark Twain is given credit for saying, “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one who crushed it.” Paul demanded that this “fragrance” be in the life of every child of God. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness, for many, is a real struggle. It is often difficult to forgive those who have wronged us, even if they have repented. When you feel the pain of another’s boot, the last thing you want to do is forgive! How do you put that hurt aside? What does real forgiveness “smell” like?
Firstly, the fragrance of forgiveness begins with a demeanor. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted…” How often does forgiveness come with the attached stench of a sour disposition, coupled with cruelty and a self-righteous demeanor? This demeanor is often manifested with phrases like, “I forgive you, but don’t let it happen again” or “I shouldn’t, but I will forgive you this time.” Those kinds of attitudes are certainly anything but Christ-like. This is the exact attitude the Pharisee seemed to manifest. “…God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican” (Luke 18:11b). Each one of us are included in “all” (Romans 3:23)!
Secondly, the fragrance of forgiveness involves a demand, “…forgiving one another…” No matter whether we feel a person deserves it or not, when a Christian repents, we must forgive (Matthew 18:22; Luke 17:3). How often do we attempt to see whether a penitent sinner is really penitent? I once had public prayer for a lady who had repented of unfaithfulness to the church, and minutes later I heard another member say, “We’ll just see if she has really repented.” It is neither my job nor yours to determine true repentance! Jesus clearly said, “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17:3)!
Thirdly, the fragrance of forgiveness is based upon a demonstration, “…even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The reason we forgive others is simply because we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:23-35). Our forgiveness is not based on who we are or who the offender is, but rather on who the God we serve is!
There is a Spanish story about a father and a son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father sought him, but to no avail. After several months of searching, the father, in a last desperate effort, put an ad in the newspaper. “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven, I love you.” On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers! Our world is filled with people who have felt the heel of the boot of this cruel world. They are crushed and broken. They are seeking the fragrance of Christ. Will they find it in us? Think about it!
