“In a world that’s still trembling in the wake of the fall, our hearts are desperate for hope.
They’re hungry for freedom.
They’re longing for redemption.
And here’s the good news.
In Christ, we have all three.” – Tenth Avenue North
So, recently I’ve enjoyed listening to Tenth Avenue North a whole bunch. I love their heart to proclaim Christ through their music. Relating to me, and so many others because of how deep and real their songs are. For me, it’s been a healing time with the Lord, and He has used those songs to speak to me in countless ways.
Anyways, since I’m enjoying their music so much, I decided to dig a bit deeper into their music and read bios and watch videos and of course pre-order their newest CD.
As I was watching their videos, one video blog stood out to me: God is Not an Elephant.
As I was listening to this and agreeing with what was being said about God forgetting our sins, as far as the east is from the west, I couldn’t stop thinking about my dad. My dad is in jail for something he did that hurt my family and left many emotional scars in our lives. Now, I have forgiven him 100%, and I love him because he is my dad. I’ve wanted to tell him this for a while, but haven’t had the opportunity until recently. I prayed over, and wrote him a letter, and in this letter I let him know just how God has been using this whole situation for good (just like Romans 8:28 says, “all things”). Now, I’m not going to go into detail about my dad, but I had to give you readers this background information so that you will know where I am coming from with what I will say next.
A quick summary of the video blog is that “God is not an elephant” meaning that He doesn’t live up to what the saying says “an elephant never forgets”. Because God forgets our sins. We are bought and paid for in Christ. His blood washes us white as snow. And the video said that since God forgives and forgets our sins, we should forgive and forget the sins of others towards us.
For a really long time I have wanted to let my dad know that I forgive him, and I want to show him in a practical way that God loves him. I know there are consequences for sin, and that we are supposed to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, but we are also not supposed to live by the world’s standards. Like one of my leaders said once “live so that even your Christian friends think you’re crazy” meaning, follow the Lord even if others don’t understand and think you’re stupid for doing so. Obedience and submission to the Lord is better than not.
That being said, I feel like the Lord wants me to let him into my life once he is out of prison. I totally understand everyone else’s feelings towards him, and how they don’t want him in their lives, but for me I don’t want to be an elephant. Now, of course I would wait until he came to me and asked for forgiveness, and more importantly had gone to the Lord and repented of this sin. However, once he does that I will welcome him with open arms (almost like the prodigal son type story, where I’m waiting for him to come out of brokenness and surrender, and then embrace him with open arms back into my life with a feast. Except, he isn’t my son, he’s my dad). Isn’t he a child of God and brother in the Lord? Why shouldn’t I treat him as such?
Sin is sin. Yes this was a pretty big sin, but still…a sin is a sin. God forgives and forgets, so I should too. He is my dad no matter what happens. He knows the Truth, but he messed up. It would be like if someone lied to me, and then asked for forgiveness, I would TOTALLY forgive them without a second of hesitation. How would it be true forgiveness though if I didn’t trust them after that? Wouldn’t that not be real forgiveness? Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5).
I want to do this because I love my dad. I’ve already forgiven him, and I want him to know Christ like I do. To know the depth of Christ’s forgiveness and love for him. I’m praying for him everyday, and I really miss him. This past Father’s Day was hard. I’m also praying that he reads my letter that I sent to him, and that the Lord speaks to his heart through it.
I don’t want to live a life of fear of what “could” happen if I forgive him and in turn start a relationship with him, growing in the Lord as father and daughter. I can understand the fear that others have about me opening up too much of my life to him, especially if one day I have children, but I am trusting God to orchestrate it all. There is still healing to be done, but I serve a God that is without a doubt capable of mending this relationship and transforming my dad’s heart.
Just like in Hosea where he married a harlot. She was SO unfaithful to him, yet he loved her with the love of the Lord and never divorced her when times got hard. God used that as an example of how He loves us despite our failures and falling away at times. He’s always there to pick us up again and restore us unto Himself.
Think of how cool it would be if at the end of the day, my dad and I could once again be praising God together. My desire is that He will get all the glory from this whole situation, despite what happens. But I’m praying that one day… my dad and I will have a father/daughter relationship like it should have been. Together as heirs of the ONE and TRUE Living God.
Anyways, thank you for reading this blog post. This is where my heart is currently. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on the matter, and if you have any amazing stories of how God mended relationships through true forgiveness in His Spirit.
Source: I Don’t Want to Be an Elephant
