Who said ‘Revenge is sweet?’ It’s a phrase I’ve heard most of my life. But how much truth is found there? It feels good to pay one back who has done you wrong. But, does it take away the pain? From my experiences I say it doesn’t. Actually it only adds to the torment in your mind.
Getting even, as we say, feels good at the moment. But, when looking back on my life, the revenge I dished out then, leaves no joy in my mind today, only guilt, regret, and shame. But, it is done and can’t be taken back. I can only learn from the past and move on.
The desire for revenge on the guilty consumed my mind till there was no thought for the innocent I hurt. It reminds me of the statement by Martin Luther King Jr., “That old law, ‘An eye for an eye’ leaves everyone blind.” It’s like the feud between the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. There is always a payment due the opposite clan for the wrong they did your own.
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior. (Francis Bacon) It is an awesome thing to know God’s grace and forgiveness for past wrongs you have done. But, there are scars on the hearts of others they will never forget. I hope the one’s I’ve hurt have a portion of the grace and forgiveness God has given, and can forgive me as well.
Things we’ve done for revenge in years past scream for their own revenge today. Yes, any revenge returned would be deserved- but the true joy we search for isn’t found there, it is only discovered through forgiveness.
‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’, said the Lord. Romans 12:19
‘Vengeance belonged unto me, I will recompense…’ Hebrews 10:30
So if we take vengeance into our own hands are we trying to do God’s task? Are we placing ourselves above Him?
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