70 x 7

Numbers go into infinity. This concept I recently tried to explain to our six year old grandson. I'm not sure if I got my point across, after all he was only six. Some concepts can only be understood with age, and education.

Life tosses us a great amount of obstacles, both seen and unseen. Some we clear with flying colors, and others we fall face forward into. The falling face forward into are the one's that get us into trouble. The falling face forward into one's are what we can call sin. These obstacles are everywhere, both seen and unseen. These obstacles get in the way of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

As long as I'm breathing, you can bet there's a good probability I'm struggling with obstacles, sin. They jump into the path of my journey called 'life'. No matter what I do, or where I go, they are there. The one's I fall face forward into cause my relationship with Jesus to take a hit. I can ask forgiveness, and draw nearer to him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9  He has promised to forgive me.

So how many times can I sin? Oh, the possibilities are unlimited. How many times can I be forgiven? Oh, the promise goes into infinity. The number is unlimited. As many times as I sin, forgiveness is offered. With age and education, I'm understanding more and more the magnitude of this number. Forgiveness is mine no matter how many times I fall face forward over, or into, an obstacle.

We are told to offer the same forgiveness to others. 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.  Matthew 18:21-22

Whoa, hold on there. Now that's a different story. We want Jesus to forgive us. We want the relationship with him restored. We want his unlimited forgiveness. Why is it such a struggle to give to others the very gift that has been offered to us? Why do we hold on to it?

Let's try to do this dance a little different. Let's see where it takes us. It could be a little scary. Surely if Jesus tells us to, it must be the best thing for us. 

Pictures taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, north of Gatlinburg, TN.