Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Therefore, when we turn to the LORD, he will have mercy on us. He will freely pardon us. (Isaiah 55:7).

Unfortunately, we often resist such amazing love and mercy—such amazing grace.

We feel as if karma rules our destiny and our universe.  If we do something wrong, we must pay for it by suffering for it. Or pay for it by doing something good.

We may feel this way instinctively due to our shame or guilt. Or we may believe this way due to our belief in a specific religion or philosophy.

We feel this way and believe this way because we assume that God (or some cosmic principle) is keeping a record of our wrongs. But this is not true.

The Way of Jesus is the way of love. It does not keep a record of wrongs.

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8). Indeed, “[a]s the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9).

Therefore, “[y]ou will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12).

Why? Because God loves us. (John 3:14; 1 John 4:8-10). He doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs.

Instead, the LORD “forgives all [our] sins.” He “crowns [us] with love and compassion.” He “satisfies [our] desires with good things so that [our] youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:3-5).

The LORD our God does not apply the rigid rules of karma to us. “[H]e does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10).

Instead, the LORD our God applies the amazing grace of his love to us. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12).

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To read how mercy and forgiveness build a civilization that is good, please read my blog “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”.

To read how David, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and King Alfred the Great used mercy to heal their Promised Lands, please read the chapter “David Establishes the Work of His Hands with Mercy” in my book Healing the Promised Land, at pages 45-55.