Setting Records

Most of you if not all are familiar with the “Guinness Book of World Records.” This publication contains records that have been set by professionals as well as novices relating to a wide range of activities. In doing a search you will find the name of the person who ran the fastest, the person who stands the tallest as well as the one who is the shortest. However, there is one subject you won’t find listed and that is forgiveness. You don’t find anyone trying to set or break this record and if someone were to attempt it and if it were possible no such record would stand for long. The reason being we are all compelled to forgive and keep on forgiving. When Peter asked about his responsibility in this regard Jesus responded by saying, “You shall forgive your brother not seven times but seventy times seven.” If you do the math, it comes up to four hundred and ninety. Some commentators suggest that this number refers to the same offense committed over and over. Regardless of how you look at it that’s a lot of forgiveness to be responsible for. Even greater is the wonderful truth that God always goes beyond human requirement. Because of this it is literally impossible for man to set the record in this area. It was captured by Divinity before the creation of time. God holds the record and He always will. While we can never surpass His ability, we should strive to do our best. This is one area we can experience a great sense of accomplishment in even though we know we can never set the record because the record has been set straight. God is the ultimate champion of forgiveness.