It is a bit of a cliché when in our current age we hear the oft repeated phrase, “It was never like this in my parents and grandparents day.” Society to day has become professionally slick about the way we switch the labels that, in a ‘bygone age’, would have been categorized as sin. Today people mock the word sin, it appears that it's presence in an individual’s life is considered the norm, it has become commonplace. There is no sense of guilt when society is seen embracing lifestyles and actions that would not have been tolerated in a ‘bygone age.’

    We call lying, exaggeration.

         We call unbelief, worry.

              We call murder, the right to choose.

                   We call steeling another person reputation, gossip.

                        We call homosexuality, gay.

                             We call greed, ambition.

                                  We call lust, adult entertainment.   

                                        We call fornication, safe sex.

We call profanity, obscenity, blasphemy and pornography, freedom of expression.

 Allow me to share the most appalling e.mail I have received for quite some time. In fact it may be THE most appalling! This is sin at its most degrading; this displays the depths to which human beings, made in the image of God can fall. This displays in the current age, a depravity that is pure evil, unadulterated sin.

 I have omitted the actual names of the couple, because permission has not been granted to publish their names. Every other detail is factually correct.

 The e.mail below was forwarded to a member of our church in Spain from a member of her family in South Africa, seeking the prayers of our church for this couple and their family.

 “Friends of our family and awesome Christians – (names omitted) were brutally attacked on 1 September 2009 - Tuesday Night at 10:00pm in their home town of Rustenburg after they went out to dinner alone. Four armed men took them to a remote location then they beat up the husband, smashing in his face. Three specialists are on standby to reconstruct his face the minute the swelling goes down. His lovely wife was repeatedly raped and all her finger tips were bitten off during the rapes. They broke her arm and then tried to kill her by hitting her in the back of her head. Even though the attack was racially motivated (as the husband could hear them swearing and making racial slurs), nothing was stolen and the husband was able to crawl to his van and drive his wife to the hospital.
Both are in Intensive Care Unit. The husband is awake and continues to thank God that he is alive and he has already forgiven his attackers! His wife has not yet regained consciousness. They have two small children who were at home but now need all our prayers.
Please join us in Prayer for healing & strength. The husband’s mother is not taking this very well so extra prayers for their families.”

The most miraculous outcome of reading this horrific experience is in the words of forgiveness of the husband……..”He thanks God he is alive, and he has already forgiven his attackers!” There is something absolutely ‘God like’ in the ability Christians have, in being able to forgive, even the most heinous crimes. This stems from their absolute experience of the forgiving, eternal love of God that impacts their lives on a daily basis.

I believe this husband will be greatly used by God in his life from now on.

In the light of the above horrific experience, perhaps the following poem will help us to understand that life’s experiences are relative. And the above e.mail will show us that the  greatest and most fulfilling way to live our life is by embracing the Christian principles of Love and Forgiveness.

When I Whine

 Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.

I looked at her and sighed and wished that I was fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave

I saw her hobble down the isle.

She had one leg and used a crutch

But as she passed, she raised a smile.

O God forgive me when I whine

I have two legs, the world is mine.

 

I stopped to buy some candy

The lad who sold it had so much charm

I talked with him awhile, he seemed so very glad

If it were late, I’d do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me,

“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.

It’s nice to talk with folks like you.

You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”

Oh Lord forgive me when I whine,

I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later when walking down the street,

I saw a child with eyes of blue

He stood and watched the other play

He didn’t know what to do.

I stopped for a moment and then I said

Why don’t you join the others dear?

He looked ahead without a word,

And then I knew he couldn’t hear.

Oh Lord forgive me when I whine,

I have two ears, the world is mine

My feet take me where I would go

With my eyes to see the sunset glow.

With ears to hear what I would know.

Oh, Lord forgive me when I whine.

I’ve been blessed indeed, the world in mine.

Sorrow looks back,

Worry looks around,

Faith looks up.

Enjoy each day to the full.