Life lessons from Corrie ten Boom - Part 2Sample

Forgiveness

Romans 5:5  (NIV)

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Around 1920, the family Ten Boom has many foster children and teenagers in their house. They, of course, quarrel at times: “Tante Kees, I hate her!” Puck exclaims after she had a full bust-up with one of the other teenagers. Corrie sits next to Puck’s bed and says: “Puck if we hate each other, we become prisoners of our own hatred and bitterness.”  “But I cannot forgive Tante Kees!” 

“I know Puck, but do you remember Romans 5:5? ‘The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.’ That’s why we can forgive.”

Years later, after the war, God tells Corrie He wants her to go to Germany to bring the message of forgiveness. Already in 1947, she is traveling to Germany and speaking in churches. 

One night, after the meeting, a man approaches her and tells her: “You might not recognize me, but I’m one of the SS guards from Ravensbrück.” She absolutely recognizes him! He was one of the cruelest guards. He continues:  “I’ve become a Christian and know all my sins are forgiven. Now I have asked the Lord that I can ask forgiveness from one of my victims for forgiveness. Please Mrs. Ten Boom, can you forgive me?” He stretches out his hand. But Corrie cannot! She is full of flashbacks of her suffering sister. There is only bitterness and hatred in her heart. Then 1 John 3:15 comes into her mind: ”Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer.” But then she’s reminded of Romans 5:5. She prays inwardly: ‘Lord, the only thing I can do is to stretch out my hand, You have to do the rest.’ She stretches out her hand as an act of her will. At that moment, she feels the love of God being poured out in her heart, it goes right through her arm like a warm stream and she can say: “Brother, I forgive you.”

To reflect upon  

Forgiveness does not mean that we do not feel the pain and hurt anymore. Forgiveness doesn’t mean either that we will forget. Sometimes we cannot forget. But forgiveness is an act of the will as we decide to give up the right of revenge and give it back to the Lord. “For we know Him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Hebrews 10:30). And He repaid it all at the cross. Everyone can choose to accept or reject the price the Lord Jesus Christ paid for us.

Prayer  

Lord, you know about all the injustice done to me. Thank you for Romans 5:5. It gives me the hope and strength to give up the right to revenge and I give it all back to You.