The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-02-27
Is There Any End to Renorse

To the Editor: Surprising person re-
vengefully does an irreparable personal in
jury to another; although he may after
ward become a Christian convert, can he
in this life or the life hereafter be free
from remorse while conscious of the past
act and injury done by him? NJ.
That question goes down to the very
heart of things. For, II we belleve that
"the evil thai men do lives after them"
that it lives forever and that its conse-
quences will be evil and only evil forever,
it does not seem possible that there can
be any end to remOTse. How can a loving
heart ever cease to mourn bitterly over
acts that have resulted only in irrepara-
bic evil to others? But if remorse must
gnaw forever what possibility is there Of
heaven of peace and Joy?
We read that there is no condemnation
to them that are in Christ Jesus" but
even though fully assured Of Gods full for
giveness could they ever forgive them
selves unless they could be assured that
even their past sins will in the good proyi-
dence of God be overrulcd for good to 9th
ers?
If Saul of Tarsus could never get rid
Of the thought that some Of those whom
he had compelled to blaspheme" were
turned aside permanently from the way of
Righteousness and brought to destruction
through unbelief by MS cruelty, it does not
seem possible that he could ever forgive
himself, although fully conscious Of hav
ing obtained Gods forgiveness.
Bat all such reasoning involves SUPPOSE
tions which may be wholly wide OF the
mark. 1t assumes that the facts are as
they now appear to US to be, and that is
certainly a very understandable assump-
ton in many cases at least.
In Paufs case, for instance, suppose it
should be revealed to him hereafter that
God had permitted his persecution OF
Christians for a good purpose, and had
overruled it for good, would not that fully
satisfy his conscience and put an end to
his remorse? Indeed, is there not every
reason to believe that he had a conviction
even in this lie that such was the case?
For while he never forgot his sin, and
felt humbled by it and very grateful for
Christ's forgiveness, there are no signs OF
any Temorseiul feelings on account of it.
And in the fuller light OF eternity it
may, perhaps, be revealed to Paul that in
every case those who suffered from his
persecution were really benefited and not
injured by it.
Some OF them may have been deceiving
themselves with the idea that they were
Christians when they had not any real
fellowship with Christ, and the persecution
may have saved them from perseverance in
a course which Gould only have resulted in
hardening their hearts and binding their
consGences. Others may have been true
Christians but. m need Of fiery trial to
burn away the dross and fit them to be
witnesses for Christ to a world which was
antagonistic to Him in all its thoughts
and desires and actions.
And assurcdly if Jesus allows His follow
ers t. suffer for the good OF others, as He
Himself suffered, He will see to it that
they shall be a6undantly compensated for
their suffering hereafter.
Pau.'s persecution was, undoubtedly,
permitted by Christ for the publication Of
the church, that it might be the stronger
to do the great work which He required
of it for the salvation of men; will not
PauPs conscience be altogether satisfied
when he sees the final results? VIII there
be any reason for remOrse?
And does not the same reasoning apply
with equal force in all cases? Are we not
clearly taught that God overrules all
events, that He causes even the wrath OF
man to praise Him and restraints the re-
mainder thereof?
Have we not right to hope that when
we come to look back upon life's finished
story in the full light of eternity we shall
see that every forgiven sin has not only
been blotted out so that it cannot rise up
in judgment against us, but has been so
overruled that even its consequences have
been made means to the accomplishment OF
Gods good purposes?
There will be little room for remorse in
the mind of any man who consecrates him
self fully to the service of God. Every rec
objection OF evil done by him in former
times will stir him up to more earnest eff
forts and thus build him up in newness
of life, instead of destroying him with the
cravings of remorse.-New York Witness