Corrie ten Boom’s Bell Ringing Story
Dutch watchmaker Corrie ten Boom and her family were put in horrible concentration camps during World War II. Their crime: hiding Jews from the Nazi invaders. Her father, sister and other family members died there. Corrie, then in her 50s, had a lot of people to forgive from the Dutchman who betrayed her that led to her family’s imprisonment as well as the brutal prison guards.
Many years later as she travelled the globe preaching, I heard her in Florida give an illustration on releasing bitterness coupled with unforgiveness. Yes, she said it is hard to forgive. But Jesus asks or rather requires it of His followers.
She said she had forgiven the guards who had abused her and caused the death of those in her family. Then some close friends behaved like enemies toward her and she was having a hard time. “So, you forgive but the bitter memories might keep surfacing,” she admitted. Then she heard an illustration that helped her. She shared it with us that day.
“When a man rings a church bell, it goes bim bam—bim bam. Then there comes the moment he stops pulling and lets go of the rope. But the bell still goes bim bam a few more times. Yet he knows it will finally stop ringing.
“When we forgive, the memories might surface again and again, but you simply bring them again to the Lord. He is Victor. Soon He makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to help us become free of the bitterness. When other people make it hard for us, then we must pray that the Lord will use that for our sanctification,” she added.1
Freedom. Everybody longs for it, but true freedom is available only in Christ. The question is, are we willing to fulfill God’s primary condition: forgiving those who have offended us? Jesus said: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 NKJV)
What does it mean to forgive? Several dictionary definitions include these:
- To absolve from payment of (to cancel a debt)
- To excuse from a fault or an offense
- To renounce anger or resentment against
- To give up the wish to punish or get even
- To bestow a favor unconditionally
- To release, set at liberty, unchain
Reading a dictionary definition of the meaning of to forgive is one thing; actually doing it on a daily basis is quite another. Our enemy, the devil, knows that when we forgive we are released from bondage, and his goal is to keep us in captivity. Recognizing his strategy to keep you bound is the first step to your freedom.
God deals with each of His children on an individual basis in this process of forgiving. He always does it in love. But it is a key to walking free from bondage.
Prayer: Lord I truly mean it when I pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” (Mt.6:12). Thank You for helping me work through the process of forgiving those who have wounded me. Thank You for the mercy You have shown me by forgiving my sins. Please, Lord, help me to show mercy to others. Help me choose to forgive each time a painful memory comes back, or whenever someone offends me. I rejoice in the freedom forgiveness brings in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scriptures:
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)
Footnote: 1.This story also appeared in Marching Orders for the End Battle, Corrie ten Boom, Christian Literature Crusade, 1969, p.53. Videos of Corrie are now available on YouTube.
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