Monday, March 26, 2012

I'm Sorry, So Sorry

As a society, we've sunk a long way since Brenda Lee sang her song "I'm sorry, so sorry please accept my apology...". Since then we have seen 'The Fonz' in the popular TV show "Happy Days" who had great difficulty saying those simple two words 'I'm sorry' or 'I was wrong'. Whenever Fonzie had done something wrong he'd try to say 'I was wrong' but it ended up coming out like a sick car trying to start: 'I was wro wro wroooooo'. I don't know if he was ever able to get it out. He had a hard time apologizing. 


Happy Days was only a TV show but we've seen real people in the media who have the same problem the Fonz did. We've seen politicians lie to nations to cover their mistakes and we've even seen another television show called "Lie To Me" which taught us all to watch facial expressions to tell if someone was lying or not.


 Most people seem to have a hard time admitting they were wrong and saying they're sorry. When some people do something wrong, they tend to ignore it thinking that if they ignore it ever happened then everyone else will too. Some people justify their error by blaming it on someone else as if it was their fault. Other people will even shun the one they wronged rather than simply apologizing. 


It seems as if we think that apologizing makes us seem weak and so we avoid it. When in fact, it is the opposite which is true. To humble yourself and admit your guilt actually is an act of strength. It's taking ownership of what you've done and rectifying it. The sad fact is, if we have this much trouble saying 'I'm sorry' to the people we've wronged, how much harder will it be to say the same words to God, the Creator of all things? 


We can't hide from God. Adam tried to after he had eaten from the tree he wasn't suppose to (Genesis 3:10). Jonah tried to when he rebelled against going to Ninevah (Jonah 1:3). But David knew that there was nowhere where we can hide from God (Psalm 139). He is everywhere and He sees everything we do. He has already seen the sin we have committed so why not admit it and ask forgiveness so we can move on with our lives? It seems simple doesn't it? But Satan would try to get you to think that its best just to ignore the sin and try to do better next time. And so many people believe this lie, from the father of all lies, and therefore live with unrepented sin and guilt. 


God tells us in His Word that "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) We can be free from the thing we did wrong if we will only admit it, confess it, and get it over with. 


I wonder how many earthly relationships would be saved by the simple act of one person saying that they're sorry. How many families could be restored? How many marriages could be saved? How many friendships salvaged? Satan doesn't want us to have relationships. He is like a wolf on the hunt. A wolf will separate the hurt or the young from the herd and then move in for the kill. Satan is 'seeking whom he may devour' (1 Peter 5:8) don't let it be you. 


May today be the day of restoration. If there is someone you've wronged, say you're sorry. If you've sinned against someone, say you're sorry. If you've hurt someone, say you're sorry, today. If you've sinned against God, say you're sorry and ask for His forgiveness and He will gladly give it. Today could be a new beginning for you simply by saying two little words: I'm sorry. 


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