opportunity to us to enter the kingdom of heaven. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that
you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or
defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake 1 Peter 1:18-20.
Christ does not get any advantage from His sacrificing, but never He focusses on what He has given.
The Captain has taught Eddie that when someone gives up his precious things, he is not really loosing it, but he just passes it to someone else. Just the same as what
was written in the Bible that when Jesus gives Himself crucified, He is not really loosing His life, but He passes the salvation to us, so that we can live within and for
Him 2 Corinthian 5: 15, to reach the eternal life in heaven.
4.2.3 Forgiveness
Jesus said there is no place for hatred, holding a grudge, revenge, retaliation or getting even in the life of a Christian.
You have heard that it was said, ‘eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him in the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Matthew 5:38-40
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43-45
Bearing a grudge and seeking revenge are never appropriate responses to a perceived wrong. A grudge destroys the grudge-holder with bitterness, and revenge
only escalates hostilities. Jesus told us we must reconcile with our adversaries, forgive their transgressions, and let go of the anger that may tempt us to commit for an act of
revenge. God is merciful and forgive our sins and failings. In the same way, we must be
merciful and forgive other people who sin against us or do us harm. So that others will recognize us as His children if we do what our father does. The father that we have is
merciful, so we have to be merciful like Him. Ruby is the person that teaches Eddie the third lesson. What he teaches Eddie
correspond to what the Bible says about forgiveness. Ruby teaches Eddie that holding anger is a poison. It eats him from inside.”We think that hating as a weapon that
attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.” 141.
According to Ruby, a grudge destroys the grudge- holder with bitterness, and revenge only escalates hostilities and it is just the same as the curved blade. It hurts
both the person we hate, and ourselves. “Forgive , Edward. Forgive. Do you remember the lightness you felt when you
first arrived in heaven?” Eddie did. Where is my pain?
“That’s because no one is born with anger. And when we die, the soul is freed of it. But now, here, in order to move on, you must understand why you felt
what you did, and why you no longer need to feel it.” She touched his hand.
“You need to forgive your father.” 142
Such value can also be found in the Bible. In order to continue life, one has not to keep
hatred within. No one is born with anger, so one needs to forgive those who have sins against him Matthew 6: 14.
4.2.4 The Power of Love
