Forgive and Live

 

Probably my all-time favorite TV program has to be “The Twilight Zone” written, and most of the time directed, by Rod Serling. A lot of the outdoor scenes were shot in Upstate New York around the Finger Lakes area and the south shores of Lake Ontario. Home base was Ithaca, New York. Nevertheless, Rod Serling had a rather astute view of the human mind and its probable reaction to all kinds of situations. He was also obsessed with the unknown, especially that of extraterrestrial contact. In one episode, “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street,” the power goes out in a neighborhood. One of the homeowners suggests the possibility that it could be the work of aliens and that one family, new to the area and with some “peculiar” family traits, is in cahoots with the invaders. As the fear escalates all of a sudden the lights come on in one house as the power seemingly is restored; then another; then another. Lights are going on and off in houses throughout the neighborhood. Accusations start flying and the gathering crowd turns into a violent mob - pointing fingers, placing blame, and attacking one another.

In less than a year one perpetrated act of propaganda riding on the heels of a so-called world-wide pandemic has pitted all sorts of ethnic groups against each other with unfounded and ridiculous accusations. It seems nobody is an American anymore without a prefix attached. The United States of America has turned into one giant sandbox fight because everybody is wanting to control the activity of play while they’re in the box. It seems nobody wants to play by the rules any longer; i.e. The Constitution of these United States, and the proper procedures of government laid down by our founding fathers. The ungodly, monstrous desire for fame, fortune and suppressive control over others is going to be the destruction of this free and prosperous land. “We the People” are giving away our rights because we’re too busy pointing fingers and accusing others.

[Proverbs 14:12] “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” At the end of every Twilight Zone episode, Rod Serling draws a conclusion on what was observed during the story. At the end of “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” he had this to say: “The tools of conquest do not necessarily come from bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices… to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill… and suspicion can destroy… and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own – for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone.” Our greatest enemy in life is our selfish self. Forgiveness seems to have faded in our society. What is right in the middle of “forgiveness”? The word - “give.” To “give” is to provide someone with something. To forgive is to provide someone with pardon. Forgiving is one of the greatest ways of giving. The New Testament words translated “forgive” are indeed graphic. * “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Here the word forgive means, “to send away.” * “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Here the word “forgiving” means, “to bestow a favor unconditionally.” * “Judge not and you will not be judged. Condemn not and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Here the word forgive means, “to release” or “to dismiss.” Send it away! Bestow a favor unconditionally! Release it! Dismiss it! What greater gift can you give to others and to yourself? Give forgiveness! Forgive and live (Romans 2:1-11).