“IF”

A little girl kneels beside her bed at night to say her goodnight prayers, “dear Lord Jesus, if I have offended mummy today for not waking up on time, please forgive me. If I have made daddy upset for refusing to brush my teeth, please forgive me also.”

Jesus’ respond to this little girl’s goodnight prayer, “IF? IF? Nahh little girl. You’re not sincere. I can’t forgive you”. (don’t you thank God that this is just fictional???!!)

A young teenage boy romanticizing his girlfriend, “dear, I will love you with all my life. Can’t wait to spend my life with you. If I have said anything, or may do anything that may make you unhappy, please forgive me?” Unfortunately, his girlfriend’s reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere!! No, I am not going to forgive you! Let’s break up!!”

A secretary thanking her boss for a bonus she just received, “Boss, thank you for this blessing. The money will come in handy. If I have done anything that wasn’t right in the past year, please forgive me. I meant to do well.” Her boss’ reply, “IF? What do you mean “IF”? You’re not sincere enough! No, I am not going to forgive you. Hey, someone, please advertise for the position of a new secretary! This one is not sincere enough despite a bonus!!”

A businessman, waiting anxiously to clinch a deal that will bring a new breakthrough to his business, was asked to wait for the decision from one of his big time customer. The wait was agonizing. So, he prayed, “Father God, bless the business. It is Yours Oh Lord! If I have sin in my life, please forgive me. I do not know why I have to wait so long for their decision, but if I have done anything that is not right in their eyes and in Your eyes, please forgive me”. God’s respond, “IF? That’s not sincere enough! No I can’t forgive you”.

Let’s reverse the role a little bit.

A member of a church walking up to his priest and say, “father, thanks for praying for me last week. I just want to say sorry if I have done anything that may have offend you in the past few months. Please forgive me”. The father’s respond, “IF? You must show sincerity whenever you apologise. Because you did not show sincerity, I can’t forgive you”.


We thank God that all the above scenarios are just mere fictional! But this is the exact measure that Rev Prince Guneratnam had been judged last year when he made a public apology in their Sunday morning Easter service. His “IF… I have offended anyone” was discussed and analyzed at great length by some. And these people have judged the “no, we shall not forgive him” sentence on him. Worst, we read things like, “let’s youtube him!” and etc with regards to this. Isn’t this a very childish and un-Christlike act?

Didn’t Jesus forgive Peter prior to his three times denial?
Didn’t Jesus forgive Judas before the great betrayal took place?
Didn’t Jesus plead with the Father for forgiveness on the Roman soldiers even though the Roman soldiers did not say, “I am sorry”?

Didn’t Jesus forgive us all, even before we confess our sins and accept Him to be our Saviour, and saving us from eternal damnation?

So, what right do we have to say to Prince Guneratnam, “You used the word “IF” in your apology. So we cannot forgive you!”.

With the measure we judge others, with the same measure we will be judged also.

Here is what the Bible says about this, in a very serious tone.

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Anyone who does not accept the public apology made by Rev Prince Guneratnam, but instead teaches others to do the same, is in a grave danger of facing God’s wrath.

So dear readers, IF we have written anything that may prick your hearts and arouse your anger, we are sorry, please forgive us.

The scripture above is taken from Romans 2:1-8.