We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.–2 Cor.5:8

It is wonderful that believers living upon the earth can have such blessed confidence as to face death without fear. They see heaven as all gain and no loss, the beginning rather than the end. Now if that is true of those yet bound to this planet, just think how those in heaven must feel! For us it is anticipation, for them it is actuality. They have entered into their inheritance and are present with the Lord. It doesn’t get any better than that!

As Christians we don’t fret about going to heaven, but some do fear the death experience itself. “Will it hurt?”, is the question most on our mind. God, however, has taken care of that also. As this story shows–for the child of God there is nothing to fear. Your dear departed loved one didn’t suffer and neither will you. Think about it like this:

Peter Marshall tells the story of a young boy about four years old who had a terminal disease. At first he was simply sick and in bed and didn’t understand his condition, but eventually he realized that he wasn’t going to get better and would never again play with his friends. One morning he asked his mother, “Am I going to die?” And she said, “Yes, dear.” “Mommy, what is death like? Will it hurt?” The mother ran out of the room to the kitchen and leaned against the refrigerator, her knuckles gripped white to keep from crying. She prayed and asked the Lord to give her an answer for her son. Suddenly, an idea came and she went back to his room and sat down on the bed. “Do you remember how you used to play outside all day and when you came inside at night you were so tired you just fell down on the couch and slept? In the morning you woke up in your own bed. During the night your father would come along and pick you up and carry you to your own bed. That’s what death is like. One night you lie down and go to sleep and your Heavenly Father picks you up and carries you to your own bed. In the morning when you wake up, you’re in your own room in heaven.” The little boy smiled and nodded. And several weeks later he died peacefully. That’s what death is like for the Christian. Satan’s hold is broken. The fear is taken away. Jesus came to break the bondage of death.

For the Christian death is good-night down here and good-morning up there!

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” –Matthew 18:21-22.

Marghanita Laski was born in 1915 to a family of thinkers. Her father, grandfather, and uncle were all renowned intellectuals, and it seemed that from a young age she was destined to follow in their footsteps. After schooling, she became an author, radio host, and television persona. She also helped with the penning of much of the Oxford English Dictionary. But she was most known for her staunch atheistic beliefs. She held tightly to the belief that there was no supreme being, let alone a God who cared. She criticized Christianity and hated those who followed it. Near the end of Laski’s life, she surprised many by revealing on television her true feelings. The well-known atheist and secular humanist admitted, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”

Marghanita was right that Christianity should be characterized by forgiveness. Christ forgave us, and we ought to forgive others.

As we see in our verses today, Peter, one of the more outspoken and straightforward disciples, asked Jesus how often we are to forgive those who wrong us. In essence Peter asked, “I understand we are supposed to forgive others. But what if they continue to wrong us? What if they wrong us seven times? Should I forgive them seven times?”

That’s a very real situation some Christians face. They work next to, live near, or interact with people who seem to thrive on continual criticism, negativity, and hurtful words. Sometimes it becomes so unbearable and responding with love and forgiveness becomes tougher. How do we act then?

Jesus’ answer to Peter is very convicting. He responds, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven.” Basically, Christ shows us that we are to never stop forgiving those who wrong us, even those who continue to wrong us with no thought of remorse.

Forgiveness isn’t easy, even when done once, but to continually forgive someone who seems apathetic and unapologetic for their actions takes godly strength. It takes strength to accept what has been done and offer forgiveness when everything inside you wants to seek revenge.

Think of some of the Christians of the past who have had to offer forgiveness in some very difficult situations. From the persecution of early church and the martyrs during the Roman Inquisition to the persecuted Christians today, Christians have offered forgiveness to their persecutors. If God can help those believers who were martyred for their faith offer forgiveness, He can help us offer forgiveness to those around us—not once or twice, but even seventy times seven times.

One of the greatest testimonies of God’s grace is the ability to forgive those who wrong you. Nothing speaks to someone more than an unforced forgiveness. It shows that unlike those who would seek revenge or retaliation, God truly works in the lives of His children.

What difficult situation are you in right now that requires your forgiveness of someone? Who has wronged you lately? God doesn’t say offering forgiveness will be easy, nor does He promise that others will react positively, but He commands you to forgive those who wrong you. Seek peace with those who have wronged you today. Refuse to give in to the natural feelings of anger and retribution, and follow God’s command to forgive others seventy times seven times.
–From “Daily in the Word”

Lastly, I want to remind you that, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, there is someone who cares–His name is Jesus! He cares so much that He suffered and died on the cross that He could meet your deepest need!

“We live unto the Lord”–Romans 14:8

If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process,

. . . and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once.

Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? Why is the army of the living God still on the battle-field when one charge might give them the victory? Why are His children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from His lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven?

The answer is – they are here that they may “live unto the Lord,” and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the “salt of the earth,” to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for Him, and as “workers together with Him.”

Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to “the praise of the glory of His grace.” Meanwhile we long to be with Him, and daily sing:

“My heart is with Him on His throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up, and come away.'”

From Spurgeon’s 19th century devotional “Morning and Evening“