Betrayal

It is hard to forgive someone when they’ve betrayed us. It wounds us, and hurts us. It reveals to us that a person we thought could be trusted isn’t even the person we thought they were. Betrayals can tear us down, and throw our lives in disarray. Betrayals can cost us our jobs, break our families, and destroy our relationships. While God can use all things for His good there is nothing good about being betrayed.

Even when we know we should forgive a betrayal we often don’t want to. We can even use the Bible and what we’ve been taught in church to justify it. Didn’t Jesus speak of how someone can get divorced over adultery? Isn’t adultery a betrayal? It is. It’s when a husband or wife betrays the vows they made on their wedding day. Also, consider Judas; known as the great betrayer. Isn’t he one of the most hated and scorned figures in history? Wasn’t Absalom, the son of David, hated because he betrayed his father’s love, and overthrew his kingdom? Isn’t the whole reason this world is fallen because Adam and Eve betrayed the Lord? The Bible is filled with betrayals, and things don’t usually turn out too well for the betrayers. Are we not just in our refusal to forgive our betrayers?

No. We are not. The Bible teaches of betrayal, but also of forgiveness. God forgave Adam and Eve, and taught them how to live in the fallen world. He clothed them. David forgave Absalom, and mourned bitterly over his death. The betrayal of Judas teaches a powerful lesson taught us in scriptures, for it shows how all things can work together for the good of those who love the Lord. Without the betrayal of Judas there would have been no crucifixion, and no resurrection. There would be no forgiveness without the ultimate betrayal. Also, while it may be just to divorce someone who has committed an affair it is not just to refuse to forgive them for their sin.

Paul wrote these words in 2 Timothy 4:16 about those that had betrayed him:

“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.”

Paul forgave those who betrayed him. This is what’s right to do. We have all betrayed the Lord at one time or another, and He has always forgiven us. We must always follow His example. I know it hurts. I know it’s not fair how they treated you. I know your life may have been torn apart because of what they did. I know how miserable it made you. I know some seek forgiveness, but some who betrayed may live happy with what they did. They may always be happy about how they tried to destroy you. Do not consider them. Your forgiveness is not determined by the heart of the forgiven. Your forgiveness is determined by the heart of the one who died so you could be forgiven. The one who knows the hurt of betrayal, and who suffered for it. The one who loves us, and hates it when we hurt. Jesus teaches us that forgiving our betrayers frees us of the pain of what they did to us. It’s true. Forgive, and be free.