Ernest Hemingway tells the story of a father who, because of disgraceful behavior, kicked his teenage son out of the house. As the years passed, the father’s heart began to soften and change. He went on a long search for his son but he could not find Paco. Soon Paco became a young man. In a last ditch effort the father put an advertisement in the local newspaper. With bold capital letters the father wrote:

“Paco, if you want to be forgiven, meet me in the town square in front of the government building at 2:00 pm.”

When the father arrived, there were over 1000 men standing in town square claiming to be Paco.

In our more reflective moments we all desire to be forgiven so that we can live in a peaceful, reassuring relationship with God. But there are some problems. Some have been living in compromise and rebellion for so long that forgiveness seems like a distant fifth cousin. That compromise which marked your life is embedded in your mind, you remember that business trip you took, the constant range—and you wonder: Is forgiveness even remotely possible?

I imagine a number of people, some you would never consider, have at some point wondered if their many mistakes, failures, and sins could ever be forgiven.

Maybe Abraham did. If not, he must have certainly had his doubts. He had a fibbing tongue that seemingly wouldn’t stop. On one occasion, in order to save his hide, he let the word get out that Sarah wasn’t his wife but his sister (which was only half true). And then, not too long after, he did it again. Twice he traded his integrity for his security. Would you consider nation building with a man like that? God did.

Forgive King David? You have to be kidding. Most notably David was an unfortunate parent and an unfaithful husband. From a purely historical viewpoint he was no more than a barbaric tribal chief with a flair for poetry. One day his lust became so bad that he impregnated a married woman; tried to blame it on her husband, had him killed, and then went on living like nothing happened. Do you think God would’ve ever called him “a man after his heart?” You say no; but God did. David’s record stunk but his repentant spirit was unquestionable.

And then there was good old Peter. In Jesus’ most difficult moment Peter sold out and denied that he ever knew him. Why? To save his hide. Did God use him? Only to preach the first recorded sermon and write a couple of Spirit-infused books in the cannon of Scripture. Not a bad “come back” for a man with questionably character.

If we had known and lived with Moses in his time we would’ve rejected any request to present him as a candidate to lead God’s people. We would have seen him as no more than a murderous outlaw. Would we’ve called upon him to carry the Ten Commandments? To lead a nation out of bondage? Probably not but God did. He called him out of a sheep pasture through a burning bush. I imagine Moses’ face must have said, “What? You want me, an outlaw?”

When God forgives he removes our sins as far as east is to west and that’s a long piece. If you start walking west and keep going west you will never get to east; and if you head east and keep going east you will never get west. And that’s exactly God’s point. When he forgives he removes your offense forever! He doesn’t just forgive, He removes; He destroys the evidence, burns the CD, and smashes the hard drive.

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used (and still uses) the most unlikely people to change the world. Not saints or superhumans, but crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars.

So come and be a part of a group of people who understand what it means to fail. For the same open arms that welcomed Abraham, Moses, and David wait to welcome you. There will be no pointing fingers, no “I told you so,” no crossed arms; just the embrace of forgiveness.

Are you a Paco?