Forgiveness

A tourist was visiting the lush, tropical island of Jamaica. In the hotel where he was staying there was a map which hung in one of the hallways. In a corner of the map there was some faint lettering over an almost uninhabited part of the island. Looking closely, he could make out the words "The Land of Look Behind."

Intrigued, he asked the hotel manager what those words meant. The manager explained they came from the days of slavery on the island. At that time slaves would escape and run away from sugar plantations where they were forced to work long hours in the scorching heat. Their destination was the uninhabited part of the island. Although they could enjoy relative safety in that wilderness, the runaway slaves were constantly looking over their shoulders in fear to see who was coming after them. Hence, the name for that part of the island, The Land of Look Behind.

Too many of us live in The Land of Look Behind. We waste tremendous energies living in a time of past sins, mistakes, regrets and painful experiences. It is wise to visit often the promises of God.

"'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 as crim­son, they shall be like wool"' (Isa. 1:18, NN).