Courtroom of Forgiveness

In 1973, Tony Orlando and the Dawn experienced their greatest success with a song entitled, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree." For those who remember this disco age, it told the story of a man released from prison (or Vietnam, depending on who tells the tale) to return home. Unsure whether his loved one was willing to let him return, he wrote her a letter asking that she "tie a yellow ribbon" around the oak tree if she still wants him after three years of separation. If he nears the house and doesn't see the ribbon, he'll stay on the bus and keep on going. Of course, he arrives to the humbling discovery that there are "one hundred ribbons" tied out front.2

By 2005, the number of American prisoners released from state or federal jurisdiction reached just under 700,000. While that number is greater than the entire population of Baltimore (not including the suburbs) and near equivalent to the city of San Francisco, ex-cons face a daunting challenge of how to emerge back into the workplace. Right now, according to a survey of five large cities in America, sixty-five percent of employers will not knowingly hire convicted felons after they've done their time.3 Even now, some of you are reading this and asking yourselves if 700,000 is an accurate number. Isn't that just a little high? Are they really out there roaming our streets?

"As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

"East and west" have long carried with them a series of different meanings. Someone might use them as reference to the ideology of "the west" vs. the ideology of "the east." Many speak of religion by separating Islam (east) from Christianity (west) and indicating that they are so far from one another that it is near impossible to find a common ground. Still others equate east and west to the Hebrew division of Ephraim (west) and Judah (east). But more than likely, you saw Psalm 103 and simply thought, "East can never touch west because they are inherently different directions." On all accounts, the point is there to be made.

Whether we're speaking about the distance between north and south or between hot and cold, there is no measure. One is so far from the other that they have no relationship and no connection. Paul goes on to use David's words in his doctrine of forgiveness:

"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Romans 4:6-8

Up to this point in our efforts to find God's glorious grace, we have encountered His care, His compassion, and His depths of mercy. But we were, in a sense, the convicted felons awaiting our punishment for sin. When He walked into the courtroom, our view of Him offered a glimpse of hope, but we still knew our condition and we surely knew what was deserved. In that moment, we became silent awaiting the sentence. The courtroom grew quiet. He could lay down the penalty or immediately pass judgment, but in His kindness, in His meekness, and in His gentleness, He said, "You're forgiven."

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Angelic crowds erupted on both sides. There were those who rejoiced at the mercy of God in your forgiveness and there were those who now stood to prove that you still deserved punishment.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." Ephesians 6:12

The battle now rages between the "powers that be" on behalf of your forgiveness. Yet there you stood with eyes locked on the King eternal. Thoughts raced through your mind. You had been released. You were free to go. Yet, as you turned to walk away with tear-filled eyes, He reached out with His scarred hands to say that He is the reason you are free. And there, in the courtroom of forgiveness, you were introduced to the meaning of God's grace.