Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)
Leopards
It is said, cynically, that leopards are unable to change their spots. Meaning that a leopard can not become a tiger, or a panther, or a cheetah. This is cynical because it claims that leopards, and by inference people, do not change.
And that false claim allows us to stop forgiving, because it would mean those sinners in our lives will never change. A liar will always be a liar. A thief will always be a thief. The selfish will always be selfish. The promise breaker will always break promises.
When we believe the leopard lie, we deny that Christians can change bad habits, find new righteous paths, and grow in sanctification. And therefore, it seems that forgiving is not only difficult, but it is stupid.
But God forgives. And in His eyes our blood-red scarlet sins become as white as snow.
In other words, in God’s eyes, Christians become pure. It happens because of Christ’s atonement. It happens because God is willing to exchange our filthy rags for Christ’s beautiful robes. But it happens.
And if God’s eyes see us that way… who are we to see anything less?
It is difficult because our eyes still see our spouse’s sins, our children’s sins, our parents’ sins. But God has changed those sins into Christ’s perfection. Let His eyes overrule our eyes!
We might yearn for that faith vision to become actual vision. But until it does (and it WILL!!!!) choose to see with GodVision™. See that leopard become a Lion of God.
And see how much easier it is to forgive.