FORGIVENESS;
MERCY

I recall a true story told us by Rev. D.C. Kopp, missionary to Africa, on one of his furloughs from the Congo. He described the office of deacon in the national church and told of a fine stalwart Christian brother who had the job of disciplining the converts.

One young convert was proving to be a source of real trouble in the church because he was inclined to break the rules and do the things that a Christian brother should not do.

After he had been disciplined many times, this concerned deacon called in the erring brother once more and told him frankly, “Now, brother, you have been failing us and disappointing us and disgracing your Christian calling and it is about enough! When we started dealing with you we had a bottle of forgiveness, but I am here to tell you that that bottle is just about empty! We are just about through with you!”

The missionary got a chuckle out of that incident for he thought it was a quaint and picturesque way to let the brother know that he was no longer passing inspection. But, on the other hand, it is far from being a demonstration of God’s dealing with us for the bottle of God’s forgiveness has neither top nor bottom!

God has never yet said to a man, “The bottle of my mercy is just about empty!”

Psalm 51:1; Psalm 100:5; Lamentations 3:19–23

I Call It Heresy!, 49, 50.