Ezekiel

He didn’t look the least bit sick. He sat on the narrow bed with his back firmly positioned on the slanted rest. His beards were cleanly shaved as it had been every day for the past forty years. He had shaved at 6:00am as he had always done. He was clothed in one of the white robes that he was famous for. His smile was wide concealing his brown teeth. It hides his truth nature, deceptive and concealing. He looked normal; the only thing out of place was the location – Lion Specialist Hospital. He had had regular checkups here since his retirement from active duty. Now he is eighty-three and looking younger than his first son.
Baba, as he was fondly called, looked at his children’s faces and smiled. “I am glad that all of you could make it.” It was an awkward moment for all. They hadn’t been in the same room since their mother’s death fifteen years ago. They never visited, never called and never spoke to him. The horrors of her death were best left in the past. They knew he led a dangerous life but killing their mother (as everyone believed) and in such a callous way was the last straw. She was buried headless. There were rumors that he had periodic rituals to renew his youth and their mother was the price that year. They fled from him.

His thick authoritative voice broke their thoughts, “I contacted you all to say I am a changed man.” One of his sons cleared his throat and sat up. “I am sorry for hurting you all these years. I am sorry ….” He scanned their faces as they looked at him as if they all had been struck below the belt.  They couldn’t believe this man looked sober. He bowed his head and said in a low husky voice, “Sorry about your mother.”

Before they could speak he pressed the bell. The door cranked and the pastor stepped him. They would have protested but they were too shocked to speak. Baba had a long battle with the church opposite his house. He had arrested this pastor severally, harassed his members with thugs and destroyed properties more than once. It didn’t add up. These two men should not be in the same room and especially not now.
He closed the door behind him and said, “Your father wrote to me fifteen days ago saying he is dying. I met with him and he accepted Christ.”

There was quiet. The air conditioner buzzing silently was the only thing louder than racing heartbeats. The pastor continued, “I have helped him reach as many as we can. He is restituting and that’s why you all are here.”

“Please forgive him for Christ’ sake.”

Baba adjusted the bed to sit up and began to plead for his children’s forgiveness. They stared at him with eyes filled with bitter tears as he told tales of his past deeds. It was almost unbelievable. The only grace they received is that somehow he never enlisted any of his children as targets of his wicked schemes. After about twenty five minutes of Baba’s uninterrupted apology, he lay back adjusting the bed with the remote control.

He closed his eyes and said pastor please pray for me.

The pastor prayed to a silent audience but he prayed on. By the time he finished praying Baba was gone. Then one of his sons asked “Will he make heaven?”
“That’s God’s decision. But God is rich in mercy.” The pastor responded.

He replied “That would be unfair!”

Author’s Note
 
God is a righteous judge (2 Timothy 4:8). God will judge everything our actions, motives, desires…everything. I am persuaded that no man can judge another since we all will be judged. Let’s us then focus on the race set before us individually (Hebrews 12:1-2) and strive to live each day in righteousness. Jesus is our focus and our end.
 
Have you been deeply hurt? Will you forgive? Please do. Forgiveness is never easy but it's the only way to be free. FORGIVE and LET GO! It is also pertinent to take the whole armour of Christ to defend ourselves from all wickedness. If the wicked repents genuinely (which is our daily prayer) his past deeds are forgiven and forgotten. Let’s not be victims of wicked acts. Let’s shine the light and stand till the very end. Shalom.

Picture Credits: Forgive/Punish