Recently, the terrorist who bombed a Pan-Am flight killing roughly 300 people was released and sent to his home in Libya. He had not earned an early release but rather was granted it as an act of mercy as he currently has a terminal illness. Understandably, many people were upset. He had done nothing to deserve this act of mercy and his sins were great. I can’t help but think, how very much like all of us in the sight of God. Our sins are many, and we did not deserve God’s mercy, yet he gave it anyway. The Bible says that

“God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

While we were still guilty and in our sins, God extended his mercy to us…not unlike the Scottish judge did to the dying terrorist. As humans, it is hard to want to show mercy to this man and I’m not even saying he should have been let out. I am simply asserting, that the mercy shown him is a lot like the mercy God shows us in that it is unmerited and undeserved. That is why the Bible says-

“It is by grace you are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, not of works so that no man may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Another lesson to be learned from the released terrorist is this- many folks on the news, I’m assuming, family of the victims, said they would never forgive him. I was very sad when I heard that because that means those folks could realistically end up in hell along with the terrorist. The Bible is clear on the issue of forgiveness-

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Certainly, God couldn’t expect us to forgive a terrorist? Yes, he could and does. That doesn’t mean the terrorist doesn’t have to face justice, his crimes merit a punishment, but we are required to forgive all men their sins against us. Look at what Jesus said-

“Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us.” Matthew 6:12

That petition from the Lord’s prayer asks God to forgive us in the same way we forgive men their sins against us. In other words, don’t expect God to do for you what you won’t do for others. If God, being holy and perfect, can forgive our sins, shouldn’t we who are sinful and imperfect forgive fellow sinful and imperfect people? But what if a person keeps sinning against us?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus’ answer was not placing a limit of 490 times. Seven was a number of completeness to the Jews. Saying “seventy times seven” was a way of saying, “forgive as many times as is needed.” God forgives all who come to Him. Should we as his followers do any less?