The Truth Commission

Finding forgiveness is not always the easiest task and sometimes a can of worms needs to be opened before that can be accomplished. I recall during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as a press photographer whilst sitting in on some of those hearings, with camera in hand and waiting to capture an emotion on film that would tell the story. It was in those trials that I experienced what true forgiveness really entailed; even though I was awe struck by the severity of some of the violent crimes that when brought to light, with the horrific tortures and deaths of the innocent covered up and kept from the public’s eye. All the commission was looking for in most cases was honesty from the concerned offender. Most offenders operated under the government’s instruction. The National Party used some severe tactics to keep equality at bay. After Nelson Mandela had come into Power and for the sake of peace and reconciliation in South Africa a committee was formed, the Truth Commission sprung to life and in my opinion it helped free many from their resentment. In some cases it achieved its objective and as Christians there is much to learn from this sanctioned action. Why form a coalition that undertook to free war criminal from their diabolical actions in the Apartheid Era that ruled South Africa for decades?  

Observe some vital principles; it takes the powers that be to condemn or convict the offending parties, they have it in their power to pass judgement. Their intent was for those who crossed the line in “humanity” to own up to their crimes and to be honest about their involvement in them. Only then would a pardon be considered. Some received absolution whilst others didn’t. The question that needs answering, did they achieve their objective? The little I was privileged enough to witness has taught me the power of true forgiveness. I saw a mother who had lost her child and had sat through the entire questioning process as the truth about her son became evident. The gore revolved around his death mentioned and yet I saw a broken woman somehow find it in her heart to forgive her sons murderer. The embrace of mother and murderer highlighted with tears was gargantuan in light of so much hate that surrounds our world. We so often quickly react with such negativity for the smallest offense and here was a murderer who asked for forgiveness. As they stood eyeballing each other with the mother gazed locked on her son’s killer; she said, “I forgive you”. That action shattered him, the tears that filled his eyes revealed sorry, regret and humiliation. He was truly sorry for his actions and she now had the power to condemn or forgive and she chose the latter. Wow! I condone you “mother” and thank you for your action that is fresh in my memory twenty years later.

Do you see a similar picture as God chose to forgive us for our crimes? “Jesus in my place” must be our reality with a true understanding of what this means. God is God and He has it in His power to condemn or to forgive those who oppose His order. Sin is the offense and even if we have only ever sinned once in our lives, which is impossible we would still be guilty of a crime and subject to the punishment of that law, God’s law! The penalty, eternal death for all eternity with hell as our final destination; now some think that is a preposterous thought but God has so ordered it and as He is the final authority on the matter so the opposing opinions have very little bearing on the matter. He alone has it in His power to forgive or to Condemn and the sooner we realize this the sooner we can deal with whatever needs to be dealt with. If that man had walked into that hearing arrogant and conceited do you think he would have found forgiveness? Why then would it be any different with our attitude towards God? The sooner we find forgiveness for our sins. Just as the charged person stood before the Truth Commission and confessed his crimes, we too will have to confess our sins before the Almighty God and no cover-up story will be allowed. Honesty must be the order of the day if we are to have any chance of finding forgiveness.

God has made a way of escape for the sinner; “Jesus in my Place”. He has taken the punishment for my sin and has paid my debt in full. But what action did I need to take for this to happen? I needed to confess my sin acknowledging my fault and sin against God’s precepts. I was obligated to truly own them and then I needed to cry for forgiveness from the One who has it in His power to forgive, seeking out His forgiveness and only then will the light switch be flipped and illuminate the grandiose mercy I have been offered. Praise the name of Jesus! In the sunlight of what has been penned maybe these verses will now take on new meaning; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

Signing off

Tyrone