Confessing and Forgiving
Pastor Duma had a minister friend, Reverend Gumede, from a different denomination, but they were still close friends. This man's wife became very ill, and he asked Duma to come and visit her. Duma recognized that not only was the lady physically sick, but she was also in deep mental distress. So, he said to her, "Open your heart deep, deep down. I'm here to help."
Confession of Sin
The lady then opened up and told Duma about a sin that had been a heavy burden on her heart. She admitted she'd had an affair with another man and had hidden it from her husband for a long time. Now, on her deathbed, it was eating her up. Duma responded, "I'm glad you're able to talk, sister. The Almighty God never came to this world for the righteous. You've been tempted and sinned. The Word of God says, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' This is for your comfort."
As tears fell down her face, he asked her, "Are you willing for this to be put right? You do not have long with us. It will be too late when you are gone. This must be put right before you go completely." She whispered, "Yes."
The Power of Forgiveness
Duma then went to his friend and said, "Brother, your wife has something to tell you. Are you willing to forgive her?" Slowly, he said yes. They had a conversation, and later the husband told Duma, "Thank you, servant of God, for coming to help my wife in these last hours. From the deepest crevices of my heart, I forgive her. I shall never cease to thank you and God in my heart."
The wife prayed for forgiveness, the husband prayed, and Duma prayed. The room was filled with the beauty of love and holiness. As the author says, “the paralyzed soul of the dying woman had become a sanctuary of peace.”
Finding Peace in Christ
Duma reflected, "Do you wonder that tears streamed down my face as the husband went to his beloved and hugged her as if they were sweethearts again? Although she was nearing the shores of departure, two days later, sweetly smiling, she met her Lord."
Friends, do you have something heavy on your heart to confess today? God is willing to heal and cleanse you if you will confess and come out into the open with it, not hide any secrets. And if you’ve been hurt, God is willing to heal you if you will forgive and offer the same grace that Jesus Himself offers.
This couple found amazing peace, even though it was only for those last few days before she died. But they found it. Let us do the same. Let us not leave these things undone—let us confess when we need to and forgive when we need to, because that is God's way, and it should be our way too.
