Forgiveness

Millions of people – perhaps billions – believe they can win God’s approval and earn eternal life by “being good” – even if they’ve “been bad” in the past. Their…

“God will render all accounts settled in the end, in the universe, either on the cross or in Hell. No injustice will remain!”

An outspoken Patriot, Michael Widman hated the British with a passion. However, the Revolutionary War era tavern owner would find himself accused of treason against America and be sentenced to death.

One man would step forward to help…but Widman hated him even more than the Redcoats.

In 2005, an African-American man named Jameel McGee was arrested on drug charges by a white officer named Andrew Collins. Like most accused men, McGee adamantly proclaimed his innocence.

Unlike most accused men, he was telling the truth.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” Most of the time, we do. And most of the time, it’s going to get us a ticket from the cop standing at our car window. At the very least, a stern warning not to do it again.

Unless it’s a very particular cop from Plano, TX.

In Revelation 22:18-19, the Apostle John gives a stern warning about changing his writings; it’s the “go-to” passage about altering God’s Word. Though preaching professor Dr. Fred Craddock was familiar with this passage, it still didn’t stop him from “tweaking” one of Jesus’ stories to make a point.

It proved to be a memorable experience….

When the phone rang in Larry’s office, Bryan, a movie producer in Hollywood, was on the other end asking for some help on behalf of a troubled friend named Mark. Larry obliged and hung up the phone.

But when he picked up the phone to call Mark, there’s no way Larry could have known what was about to happen.

How would you respond if someone asked you to describe reconciliation? What sort of picture would you paint? Would you talk about forgiveness? Granting pardon? Showing mercy after wrongs were committed?

Or would you just point to these pictures taken in Africa?

Dr. Fred Craddock had no qualms about calling his childhood neighbor, Mr. Cook, a “hateful man”; after all, when Fred was just a young boy, Mr. Cook killed his dog. Fred’s sentiment toward Mr. Cook is easy to understand because many people have had a neighbor like Mr. Cook.

But few people have had a father like Fred’s.