I want to

talk today about truth that could change the world

overnight if we believed it.

How can we

not believe truth? Because we choose what we believe.

Even in the face of undeniable proof, we still deny

truths that we do not want to believe. Truth that is

inconvenient or uncomfortable. Truth that requires too

much of us.

To what

truth am I referring?

"What

goes around comes around."

It's a

common saying and I don't mean to sound flip. There are,

after all, dozens of other ways of expressing this truth.

Perhaps you like one of these better:

Do unto others as you would

have them do unto you.

Be careful what you send

into the life of another for assuredly it will return to

your own.

Make your words sweet

today, for tomorrow you may have to eat them.

Judge not that you be not

judged.

it will be measured to you in return.

Just as you want people to

treat you, treat them the same way.

I could go

on and on, but I'm sure you are beginning to grasp the

truth I'm talking about here. Now, whether we hold on to

what we grasp is a whole `nother story. I can't help you

there. I have troubles enough holding on to the truths

that come my way.

You see,

when we or those we love are wrongly treated, judged

unfairly, hurt, put down... we want to fight back.

Parents especially want to fight. When someone hurts our

children, it does not matter if that child is three or

33, we want to fight back. And when someone uses us to

hurt our own children, it is almost unforgivable.

But guess

what, another truth comes into play when that happens.

"Forgive,

if you would be forgiven."

Other ways

of saying it:

Be merciful, just as your

Heavenly Father is merciful.

Do not condemn and you will

not be condemned.

Love your enemies, do good

to those who hate you.

Pardon and you will be

pardoned.

How? How do

we do it? How do we forgive and love and pray for those

we'd rather see dead or humiliated or miserable?

Ask the

mother who faithfully writes letters to the man in prison

who has been convicted of killing her only child. Ask the

father who regularly visits the grave of the young one

whose life was snuffed out by the speeding teen. Ask the

young man whose pregnant wife died in an automobile

crushed and mangled by a drunk driver. Ask any parent

whose child of any age has been damaged by another in any

way.

My daddy

always said anybody could do or say anything to him and

he could take it in stride, but let someone hurt his

child and that was another story. But in the end, as he

grew in Christ, and neared his final days, he learned to

let go and let God.

So, how do

we do it? How do we forgive? How do we let go, and let

God?

Just do it.

Humbly, with broken hearts and spirits, we bow before the

one who misses nothing. In prayer we praise Him for what

has been, what is, and what will be, knowing with what

faith we are able to hold onto that all things work

together for good, for those who are called according to

His purposes. And we remember with humility the promise,

"'Vengeance is mine. I will repay,' saith the

Lord." And we tremble because we know He keeps that

promise.

How? How do

we know? Because if we live long enough we see it play

out time and time again, more smoothly than the most

perfect performance ever to hit Broadway. The simple

truth is God never misses a thing. Truly, what goes

around comes around. It's one of the laws of the

universe. One He set in place a long time ago. I don't

think He even has to lift a finger now. We do it all to

ourselves.

Practically

every major religion teaches these truths of which I

speak today. But we just don't get it, do we? And while

I'm talking about truth. I might as well remind myself,

and you too, that more battles have been won by prayer

than by all the armies who ever fought, or all the

lawyers who ever stood in a courtroom.

If

something's really bugging you today, talk to the Supreme

Court judge of the universe who sees and knows all. In

due time, He always answers the appeals that come before

Him.

But

remember, due time means His time, not my time or your

time.