Something has been happening to me since I was a teenager. Over the years, many people have looked at me and, due to my stature and height, assumed I was a police officer or a member of the armed service, and this even continues to this day. 

I cannot blame them because a particular look, disposition, and temperament mark these personnel. But apart from my height, nothing could be further from the truth regarding me and being in the protective service. 

Everyone has their calling in life, and I can see some individuals saying that they want to enter the protective service because they want to put persons who do wrong in jail. They say to themselves, “Individuals must be punished for their actions, and I am willing to be one of the cogs in the wheel of the judicial system to do just that.” – totally understandable.

I respect that every profession is different, and it takes a certain kind of person to embark upon a particular course in their life. For example, it takes a kind of person to be a doctor and see blood. It takes a kind of person to work in a submarine and function miles under the sea. 

With this thought regarding the kind of people who do things (charater traits), I would like to reference the popular scripture in Matthew 18:21-35 which references the parable of the unforgiving debtor. 

To summarize this parable, the Apostle Peter asked Jesus how often we should forgive someone who offended us. In His reply, Jesus said you should forgive seventy times seven and outlined a parable. In the parable, a king forgave a servant a significant debt, and as soon as the servant left, he looked for someone who owed him a small debt and placed that person in prison when they could not pay. When the King found out, he was angry and called the unforgiving servant evil for not forgiving others when he was first forgiven. This resulted in the King putting the unforgiving servant in prison and rescinding his mercy, grace, and forgiveness towards him.  

As the parable shows, forgiveness is an important and essential part of being a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ, yet many people seem to be challenged by it due to the wordly charater traits that still resides in us. Many of us forget the sins and transgressions the Father forgave us of and present ourselves as squeaky clean while heaping judgment on others. We think, “That person who wronged us should not be forgiven; they must face jail time!” Like the wicked servant, we are taking up the roles and responsiblities of Spiritual Police Officers and incarcerating others. We are outside walking free and living our lives because of God’s mercy, but we are slamming jail doors and turning the keys to imprison others. I can just imagine how God looks at us sometimes.

I am returning to what I discussed earlier: “What kind of person does this?” What type of person does not show mercy to others or offer forgiveness? The kind of person who DOES NOT see the plank in their eyes but takes pleasure and great liberty in pointing out the speck in others. (Matthew 7:3-5).  Let me add to this and say it  plainly as Jesus did, “A person who does not forgive others is evil!” Read verse 32 of Matthew 18 and tell me if that is not precisely what Jesus indicated. 

We are God’s representatives here on earth, and we are to mirror His image and likeness. So, if God is forgiving, we need to be forgiving; if God shows mercy, then we must show mercy; and if God is love, then we are to display love. Therefore, if we are not like Him in our image and likeness, we are opposite to Him, and opposite to God is only one thing—EVIL. As hard as this is to hear, this is how God sees it. It is the black and white of the matter. 

If you have read this blog, then it is an opportunity for us all to reestablish our relationship with God fully. Remember, God would not have forgiven us over the years if we harbored unforgiveness (Matthew 6:15). This essentially meant we were keeping ourselves in prison and estranged from God, and now is the time to change that. 

Today is the day for a jailbreak. In Matthew 16:19, God tells us that he gave us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Today, His word wants to provide us with the keys to a prison as well —the prison that we might have placed individuals in over the years. Go free your captives; and in return, you will also free yourself.

It’s time to be free once and for all. The bible says that who the son (Jesus) sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). But the son is not the only person empowered to set others free, as we can also do the same when we decide to forgive others their trespasses.

Take care, my friend, and I would like to leave you with this great book recommendation. Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. 

PS: Dane Miller was last seen handing out keys at the Penitentiary of People’s Minds and Hearts.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller – “God is the Author, I am the Pen”

Authored Book – What is the Woman Saying – Lessons from Biblical Women.

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