Good Morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
If you are into history, in 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World. It’s claimed that he scuttled or burned some of his ships upon arrival leaving no option for people to return from whence they had left. There was no going back. There are other incidents in history where men were ordered to destroy their ships leaving them no option to have a change of mind or direction. Apparently Alexander did the same, burning his ships in 334 bc when they landed on Persian shores, placing his troops on an irreconcilable course of action from which they could not change their mind or return back.
Some people through a lack of mercy burn their boat of reconciliation with others. L
Matthew 5:23-24 (KJB) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Have you ever regretfully apologized for something but no matter what you said or did it really didn’t matter because they weren’t going to forgive you anyway? You made the effort to reach out to them but instead of forgiving and reconciling with you, they closed up their heart and refused to show mercy, taking an irreversible course and direction in their implacable mind. They burn their boat of reconciliation.
Not forgiving and reconciling with others is one of the most destructive sins in scripture because the one that you are destroying is yourself. The reason why I say this is because if you cannot forgive and reconcile with others, God is not going to forgive you. If we have no forgiveness with God we have no hope of salvation and eternal life. God will treat you the same way you treat others.
Sins will eventually be punished in the Lake of fire. People in this state of mind are willfully choosing to go against everything that Christ Jesus stands for, forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation. They are implacable and unmerciful.
Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
The word implacable means incapable of being appeased, placated or pacified. No matter what you do, nothing can warm the coldness of their heart. Implacable is used to describe somebody who has strong opinions or feelings that are impossible to change. They refuse to forgive and reconcile as commanded by Christ, because they have burned that ship in their own mind. They are inexorable, meaning that you cannot persuade them or move them no matter what you do.
When somebody is implacable they are cruel which is willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it. They are remorseless, showing no sadness or guilt. They are vindictive which is disposed to seek revenge and intend to cause anguish or hurt to someone. They are spiteful and irreconcilable, refusing to forgive and reunite with others. Lastly they are merciless, showing no mercy and without pity.
These are qualities that are completely opposite to the qualities of God. They are contrary to divine love and are the result of an unforgiving bitter heart. Instead of allowing sins to wash under the bridge through their forgiveness, they burn the bridge of reconciliation instead. They are implacable.
On the other hand, when someone is placable it means that they are easily pacified and appeased. They are quick to forgive. This is the way that God is. He’s very forgiving and very merciful when we confess our faults to Him. Christians are called to show that same mercy that they have received from God to others so that they can reconcile with them. To reject this is to reject the accepted teachings of the common faith. Without reconciliation between parties, divine forgiveness never took place.
If you have gone through the effort to apologize and to express regret you have done your part in the eyes of God. The burden is no longer on your shoulders but is transferred onto the other person. If they refuse to forgive and reconcile they risk damnation. In this day and age there is a false gospel being taught by numerous people. They teach that you can forgive without reconciliation. That is foolishness. Imagine God saying I forgive you, but you won’t be in heaven. Imagine the dad of the prodigal Son saying I forgive you, but I don’t want you around me or living here anymore. That’s not forgiveness, it’s not even love, it is the world’s form of forgiveness that is led by an unmerciful implacable heart.
The way that you treat others will go full circle and come right back on you.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
How forgiving are we commanded to be with each other?
Matthew 18:21-35 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.
This passage is an example of an implacable, unmerciful servant
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
To forgive from the heart means that you love and care for the offender. To forgive from the heart means that you want to be together with them once again. The prodigal son returned home to find open arms, forgiveness and reconciliation waiting for him. If that kind of forgiveness cannot be shown to others, especially in the Christian Church, then It will not be shown to you by God. You alienate yourself from God’s mercy by not reconcilling with others.
God’s forgiveness completely blots out our transgressions as though they never happened so that reconciliation can happen and we can be with Him someday in heaven. If you cannot extend others grace after you ever received grace from God, then it truly is an unforgivable sin, provoking the wrath of a merciful God.
All that is left and remains is impending punishment for the unmerciful and implacable if they’re going to make that choice to….
……..Burn the Boat.
Let’s think about these things for right now and Lord willing we’ll talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️
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