It's Twelve O'Clock Midnight and the Spirit is alerting me to Warnings

It’s Twelve O’Clock Midnight and the Spirit is alerting me to Warnings

These are not imminent events that are waiting to strike mankind but the personal pitfalls of one or more persons that are holding onto hatred towards another close relative that may become the very sin to keep them from entering heaven.  

We are all aware of how Jesus responded to the question on forgiveness; “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your transgressions.”  (Mt 6: 14 - 15).  This is such a stern warning that there is no metaphorical theme that will get us around the deepest probability of what lies ahead for stubbornness from a hurt that means little in the realm of eternity.

From Sacred Scripture we read of how often God reached out with his mercy on each person that sinned greatly and found the Lord opening his heart and touching one of his children who deliberately turned away from another person by continued anger or hatred.  When Cain became jealous towards his brother Abel he killed his only brother in a fit of rage.  One way that many others throughout history have acted simultaneously.  

David became God’s chosen king from whom through his seed brought Jesus Christ into the presence of humanity.  His sins became a whole different manner of finding grace only after suffering a mind-opening regret for adultery and murder.  Psalm 51 tells us how deeply his heart pined for God’s forgiveness.  

It is the present situation that I personally have viewed that a particular woman is so embedded with anger towards some of her siblings over their choice of political preferences that she hasn’t spoken to them for nearly five years.  Her response when asked why is simply they should be dead because of their disagreement with her.  Unfortunately, they do not get into discussions with her and her frustration has placed a near-rejection towards siblings that came from the same womb.  

St. Paul was in a similar crisis when he was on his way to Damascus to punish and arrest Christians because of his anger towards people who were seeking the Son of God in their choice of worshiping the Christ who died and rose to forgive their sins.  His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus became the impetus that found God’s forgiveness and in turn became the greatest evangelist to spread the Gospel of God’s mercy for us.

Of all the many ways we can reject God’s forgiveness is how we hold onto anger, hatred, revenge, and a manner that will eat at our internal system and maybe destroy the very essence of your life as described in the beatitudes found in the Gospel of Luke.  “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.  But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.  Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.  Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”  (Lk 6: 24 - 26).   We cannot continue holding onto these evil connotations that can only destroy our soul and keep us out of heaven.  Pray and fast while holding hatred inside will not release us from forgiving others.  Those who find themselves in this crucible must quickly turn back and seek reconciliation with those they have hurt.  For they who refuse to reconcile will be the one to suffer untold rejection from God until they have a turn of heart for their self-made enemies.

While in Midland, TX in ministry I attended a workshop titled “The Healing of Memories,” which hit the point of so much personal presence of internal illnesses that psychologically can reduce a person’s ability to stave off serious physical problems later in life.  Experts in the fields of medicine and mental problems have noted that holding onto hatred and revendful attitudes towards another can produce results that seem to bury themselves deep in our physical make-up that might cause a deterioration that we blame on other reasons.  

Ralph B. Hathaway