Blindsided Series - Post Three
Brenda Harris
Accident Forgiveness
Some auto insurance companies offer what is known as accident forgiveness. This coverage allows for an accident to be “forgiven” even if it was the fault of the insured person. Should a mishap occur, it will be pardoned, and the insured person’s auto insurance premium will remain the same. In some cases, the insurance company may lose money by offering this benefit, but it is available regardless of the potential cost the company may incur.
I see forgiveness, after being blindsided by an offense, a bit like auto accident forgiveness. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”). Therefore, when forgiveness is needed, we must extend it. This, however, does not mean it will be free of cost. When we forgive a person who has injured us, an amount will be withdrawn from our emotional, mental, financial, and/or physical resources. We may think it unfair to have to pay to forgive and yet, that is exactly what Christ did for us.
Christ understood firsthand what it felt like to be betrayed, abandoned, falsely accused, mocked, forsaken, and beaten. He forgave all these sins and more when He willingly went to the cross to die for all the sins humanity ever committed. Because of His sacrifice, we are the beneficiaries of the most incredibe act of love known to mankind.
It cost us nothing to receive His forgiveness
but in order to offer it to us,
it cost Him everything.
If we accept His gift of grace, He does ask us to offer it to others. Jesus made God’s expectations very clear for us in Matthew 6:14-15.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
When we consider how much we have been forgiven, it will hopefully make it a bit easier for us to forgive others. It will likely cost us something, but it will never cost us as much as it cost Christ. When we forgive the one who has blindsided us, may we do it generously, lovingly, and sincerely just as Christ does when we ask Him to forgive us.