THREE WORDS HEARD ROUND THE WORLD ... AND WHY

Of all the things that happened following Charlie Kirk’s death, the most memorable and most talked about was his wife, standing at his memorial service, and choosing to forgive the man who had brutally killed her husband. She didn’t have to do this.

The world was shocked at this stunning evidence of true Christianity when she simply said three words about the man who had killed her husband:

“I forgive him.”

Those words were heard around the world and have helped spark an extraordinary movement. It’s a movement of forgiveness and bold witness for Christ. A movement that is setting captives free and releasing people from their sin and guilt and bitterness.

Why was that moment so profound? Because we’re never more like Jesus than when we forgive. Christ did the exact same thing against his greatest offenders. “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing,” He said from the cross. He has chosen to forgive and redeem all those who come to Him in humility and faith from all of our sins. He paid the price for our sins on the cross so that, if we believe, we can be fully forgiven.

JOSEPH
… was a man who forgave his offenders. His brothers, in a rage of jealousy, had literally sold him into slavery to get rid of him. Little did they know that their vicious act was overseen by a powerful, sovereign God. He is a God who can take the worst that is thrown at us and work it together for good.

God would use this tragic hurt in Joseph’s life and Joseph’s corresponding forgiveness to raise Joseph up in Egypt to be the second most powerful man in all the world in Pharaoh’s government. (Read the story in Genesis 37-45). Along the way, Joseph had realized, by God’s grace, several vital truths … truths for you and me.

FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE OF MY WILL, MADE POSSIBLE BY GOD’S GRACE, TO RELEASE A DEBT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
Read that sentence again, slowly. Most people believe that they cannot forgive. That is true, if you believe that forgiveness is an act of your emotions. You’ll never “feel” like forgiving those who hurt you. But forgiveness is a choice of your will, and it is supernaturally possible if you know Christ. He is the giver of all enabling grace, if you will ask Him.

FORGIVENESS LOOKS BEYOND TEMPORARY PERSONAL PAIN TO ETERNAL, DIVINE PURPOSES.
The whole world was in famine during Joseph’s time as a ruler in Egypt. But through God’s intervention, Joseph had stored up grain for seven years to withstand the drought of the next seven years. His brothers, the very ones who had betrayed him, came from Israel to Egypt to buy grain and sustain the Hebrew race. And there they found the very brother they thought they had killed. They were terrified, but listen to Joseph’s response … one of the most amazing paragraphs ever spoken by any man.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:4-8)

We don’t know when it had happened, but Joseph had cooperated with God along the way, forgiving all those who hurt him and keeping his heart sensitive to God. God had spoken to him, used him, and everything he did prospered because “God was with him.”

Through the years, God graciously unfolded for him “why” all these things had happened to him. He revealed that his personal pains would put him in a position to be used for a greater purpose. Joseph was literally used to save the whole world, even those who had hurt him. He accepted the pain for the greater purpose.

FORGIVENESS BLESSES THOSE WHO HURT US, BECAUSE CHRIST HAS DONE THE SAME FOR US.
What do we ever gain by revenge? This is why Paul gives us profound instructions in Romans 12.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19)

God is perfect in justice and righteousness. He will repay others who hurt us if he so desires. This does not mean that we do not confront evil men. But we cannot be instruments of justice if we have not forgiven properly. Forgiveness is an act of faith in God, believing that He is faithful to do what is necessary with everyone. I don’t have to be the judge, jury, and executioner. I can transfer all of that into God’s courtroom.

FORGIVENESS IS OUR MOST POWERFUL WITNESS OF THE REALITY OF CHRIST.
The whole Bible is about forgiveness. Erika Kirk’s act, expressed in three simple words, was profound and life-changing because it came from the heart of God. And we are never more like Christ than when we forgive.

The famous actor, Tim Allen, moved by Erika's choice, has written that he said those three words and has forgiven the drunken driver that killed his dad 60 years ago.

Perhaps it is time, right now, for you to utter those three words towards someone who you feel has hurt you. Ask God for His grace to help you and make the choice to release the debt you feel they owe you. Release them into the hands of God and thank God for setting you free from the debilitating bondage of unforgiveness.