Forgiving my rapist

Well - I knew it was coming...I knew not only was God calling me to "forgive" the man who raped me but He was also calling me to write to him and tell him that I forgive him and to lead him to Christ.

I feel confident that this portion is now complete...I feel secure in my decision to forgive and the healing that it has brought.

Here is the letter that I wrote to him:

It’s been 30 years since that horrific night for me. With 2 days ago being National Forgiveness day, I felt it was time to release you, time to tell you that I forgive you. Forgiveness has not come easy for me but God has walked me through it. I will not tell of the act of what happened to me with your name attached to it but I will be speaking out about it.

My greatest concern is that you would know the true love and forgiveness of God Almighty.

In Matthew 18 (quoting from the Message Bible) Peter says, “Master, how many times do I forgive my brother who hurts me? Seven? Jesus replied ”Seven! Hardly…Try seventy times seven.”

That’s a whole lot of forgiveness and if Jesus can forgive…I too can forgive. Does this mean we can be the best of friends…not likely but it does mean that I care about your soul making it to heaven and that to me would be better than us being friends anyway!

Romans 6:23 (MSG) says “Work hard for sin…and your pension is death.”

(The below is an excerpt from Billy Graham on Forgiveness taken from my Message Bible) There is a high price to pay for low living, and sin is no respecter of persons. The only way for sin to be taken away is at the cross. God loves you and will forgive you if you will come to Him. “The Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9 NKJV) There is no sin that you have ever committed that the blood of Jesus Christ cannot cleanse. Christ can turn your life around and make a beautiful design out of it. If you are filled with doubts and troubles, pain is within your heart and conscience. Christ can make you to be everything you ought to be if you will put your trust in Him. Coming to Christ doesn’t make you perfect. Suppose you accept Him and you mess up? You confess it and He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin. Surrender your life to Him.