God Can Forgive Anyone

2 Chronicles 33:9-12 -   But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.  The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.  So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.  In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

 

Manasseh took the throne after his father.  He was so evil…his name would have been included in the top 5 kings that led their people away from God. He placed the idols he worshiped…along with the altars that held their sacrifices ….inside the courtyard if God’s holy Temple.  He offered his own sons on altars in the hills…and encouraged the people to worship these useless images as well. He broke every commandment God laid before him.

 

But the amazing part of this story is how God softened his heart of evil with the bondage of the Assyrians.  The harsh treatment of his captors made him rethink his evil doings…and completely change his attitude. God was so touched by his humble turn around and ray of repentance that he showed him full mercy…and forgave him of all his evil.  God was so moved that he did not stop with forgiveness…he restored Manasseh to the throne and allowed him the chance ot clean up his mess.

 

I am thinking that if God could forgive Manasseh…he could forgive anyone.  There is simply not an act of evil that God will not forgive…if we turn to him in humility and repent of our old ways.  And Manasseh was only one of many people that God changed from evil into humble Christian servant. Look at Saul…who was changed into the mighty preacher Paul in Acts 9….or the criminal next to Jesus on the cross in Luke 23. Jesus promised him a place in paradise with him when they breathed their last.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me that no matter what I do I can always come back to you in humility and repentance.  And thank you for reminding me that this promise is not just to me…but to every soul in the world who has walked in a path that led them into evil or sin. Show me the sin and evil in my own life…so I can repent and ask your forgiveness…then allow me to see the potential in every other soul gone astray…so I can be the one to tell them that they too can join me in that paradise called Heaven some day. Amen.