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Linkin Park and Our Need for Forgiveness

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Question: What do you get when you combine a spooky sort of piano intro, solid melodic vocals, back-to-basic rock sound with a series of gut wrenching images and thought provoking lyrics?

Answer: Duh! Linkin Park's latest uber smash hit song/video called What I've Done...

Evidently a four year 'breather' was good for the band that has been topping the charts since the turn of the century - because this song journeys deeply into the state of our confused and angry world in a previously untapped way. What I find especially interesting is that you would think a song that explores and exposes themes like race riots, war, pollution, gas consumption, ivory, body image obsession, self-indulgence, and terrorism (just to name a few) would be downright depressing. Well, actually it is depressing - but the lyrics provide a hopeful backdrop that softens the glaring tragedies that assault our emotions like a slap to the face.

So let mercy come,
And wash away...
What I've done.
I'll face myself,
To cross out what I've become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I've done...

I'll start again,
And whatever pain may come.
Today this ends,
I'm forgiving what I've done.

What's hopeful about these words is the idea of confession, forgiveness, and a new start. I've never met a person yet who doesn't feel the sting of regret and guilt from time to time - and longs for the healing power of forgiveness and a clean slate. No, the average individual hasn't bombed a country or spread an epidemic of disease and poverty...but all of us have damaged our personal worlds with anger, bitterness, selfishness, and pride (just to name a few).

I don't know about you, but I could easily make my own video about 'what I've done'...filled with images of the people I've hurt, the stupid things I've done, and the lives I've polluted. Actually, that video sometimes runs in my mind's eye whether I like it or not.

So what are we to do with what we've done? Well, one option is presented in Linkin Park's song: "I clean this slate"..."I'm forgiving what I've done."

Only this option, while sounding very hopeful, actually doesn't work very well. Why? Because self-forgiveness is a false concept. The crimes we've committed in the world and in our world all fall under the category of what the Bible calls 'sin' - and all sin at its heart is ultimately a crime against God and the way He set up the world. We don't have the power to clean our own slate because we don't own the eraser. Put another way, the idea of forgiving yourself is sort of like telling a police officer that he/she can't give you a ticket for speeding because you've already 'cleaned your slate'. That response might get an outburst of laughter from the cop, but it won't get you off the hook.

But there's another option - it's the one from the One we offended in the first place. In fact, this option provides the lyrics I run in the background of my stinging and painful 'What I've Done' video... because they bring genuine and authentic forgiveness. They show me the true way to let go and move on:

The blood of Jesus...cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7)

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9)

I-yes, I alone-will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. (Isaiah 43:25)

The Bible promises something that no amount of wishful thinking, therapy, or self-slate cleaning can provide:

True forgiveness.

Why? Because in one single solitary act, Jesus Christ - the God-Man who never sinned, spilled His precious blood on the hill called the Skull as a sacrifice for every sin of every person in the past, present, and future. When Christ breathed His last breath on the cross, legitimate forgiveness instantly became available for all of humanity.

How do I know? Because before His life expired, Jesus shouted the truest words of mercy in the universe:

It. Is. Finished!!!

This reality changing proclamation signaled the end of guilt as a new dawn of grace rose on the horizon to chase away the shadows of pain and regret. Jesus' last cry from the cross was literally TETELESTAI ("It is finished!") - meaning our forgiveness had been accomplished completely, once and for all time. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died.

So the next time the haunting video of what you've done relentlessly plays in your mind, simply hit the stop button and click on the link to the much better video. You know, the one that shows Christ on the Cross declaring the freedom of forgiveness...

It's called "What He's Done".

I guarantee you'll never get sick of that video.

Head: What you need to know about this truth

True forgiveness can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

The feeling that comes with true forgiveness is like no other in the universe. It's a feeling of freedom, release, and hope for the future all rolled into one. Check out these lyrics from a song called Forgiven by True Vibe:

Once I didn't know about You when I wondered where I'd go
If I left this world behind, eohh
When I trembled when I saw the destination of my soul
And on bended knees I cried

Then my inners eyes were opened then
I saw my only hope is to
Believe You were sent to set me free

And I am forgiven yes I know,
You are risen and opened up the door
Into heaven, I'm forgiven, ohh

What a Lord You are,
A Savior full of mercy full of life
Everlasting King of Kings, eohh
And what a price You paid
To save the souls of those that took Your life
The very ones that You forgave

With Your blood You washed me white as snow
And I don't worry where I'll go
No power can separate me from Your love

And I (am forgiven) I'm forgiven
Yes I know oh yeah (You are risen)
You are risen (and open up the door)
Open up the door (into heaven) ohh yeah
I'm forgiven

Look down, look down, please look down on me Jesus
I want to thank You and praise Your holy name (praise Your holy name)
I look up, look up, up into the heaven, (oohhhh)
And I know that's where I'm goin one day

Cause I am forgiven, yes I know
You are risen (and open up the door)
Into heaven (heaven), I'm forgiven, eohh
ohh.. ohh.. ohh... ooo

Yes I know (I am forgiven) ohh
(yes I know) I know (I am forgiven)
(I know) I know I can face tomorrow (I am forgiven) because you live
(yes I know) I know I can face my sorrows (I am forgiven)
Because of that love you've give yeah (I know)

Sweet Jesus (I am forgiven) gave His love to me,
Sweet Jesus (I am forgven) died and set me free (I know) woah ohh
(I am forgiven, yes I know) ohh... noh... (I am forgiven)

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

One of the best ways to make forgiveness a daily part of your life is to keep short accounts with God. This week, set an alarm on your cell phone or watch to go off a few times a day, and when it does, take a few minutes to think about how amazing God's forgiveness is, and ask yourself if you need it at that moment.