Lego owns Bionicle, along with the names Ketongu and Jala, and Hasbro owns transformers. Everything else in this story is mine.

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Chapter 29: Forgiveness

But as Green waited for whatever Paradox had wanted to say to him, he immediately saw a growing concern in the Toabots' eyes. A concern for ME., Green was guessing. But why? He was RIGHT wasn't he? Wasn't he pretty much the whole reason why nothing had been going right thus far? Or why he had been at such a distance from the best friend whom he knew he had loved since high school? Or why the TOABOTS had been such a distance from the SPHERE? As far as HE was concerned, he had done WAY too much to deserve any form of care from ANYONE.

Finally, Paradox spoke: "Green, as wrong as what the Turaga did was, I see no peace in holding onto that anger". Neither do I see any in seeing you blame yourself for it". "It was your ancestors Green, it was never you".

"But I'm not just talking about THAT Paradox"., Green told him. "Yes I really hate what those guys did to you, and it makes me angry every time I think back to it". "But what makes me all the more angry is the fact that I fair n o better than them when I keep failing you with each passing second".

Paradox's eyes just filled with more and more concern as he heard Green say this. Clearly this Le-matoran had a lot of anger towards those who had sinned against them all those years ago, but even deeper in this boys light, Paradox sensed much more anger towards himself than anyone else. And this worried Paradox much more greatly than he could put into words. As all those other Turaga surely knew by now, Paradox cared deeply for all Bionicles and Transformers regardless of who they were. And that was why he was going to try his best right now to tell Green what he needed to hear.

"Green, it's because of you that we are getting the Sphere in the first place"., Paradox told him. "And even if you WERE the reason why we hadn't had the Sphere earlier, I hold no grudge against you for it". "And all those other things you blame yourself for, they are not worth holding on to".

Green looked up at Paradox now with a look full of question. If he had gotten ANYTHING about this guy by now, it was the fact that he was VERY compassionate and caring for everyone who wasn't himself. But how and WHY would THIS guy, the LEADER of the Toabots be so kind with him? Again, it seemed like nothing could make this guy angry. He was all peaceful warrior and metal as far as he was concerned by now. But at least a hundred or so questions still hung in his mind, one of them being:

"Why are you so willing to tell me this"?, Green asked him.

"Because more than most other things I could care about right now Green, I care about how much you blame yourself for things that need to stay in the past"., Paradox told him. "We nearly payed today because of what happened in OUR past, and I do not want you to suffer the same way".

"How can you say THAT"?, Green suddenly asked. Paradox gave him a look of question as Green continued: "How can you forgive me for what I've done"? "Better yet, how can you even forgive us as a SPECIES for all we've done"? "We outcast you, years ago out of this selfish fear". "Out of a cruel and COMPLETELY selfish emotion". "Not at all to sound mean Paradox, but just how can you forgive ANY of us for what we did to you"? "What we did was wicked, evil and inexcusable". "With that in mind, when you really think about it, none of us deserve what you're doing for us right now". "I mean for you're PROTECTING us from what we rightly deserve, so why do you protect or forgive us"?

Green stopped there, a little surprised that the concern in Paradox's face was still there. After everything he had said, regardless of how mean some of it must have sounded, Paradox was still there for him, as if he was already one of those good friends who just never seemed to want to leave, and not because of the obvious reasons. But because he actually CARED for how said friend was feeling or because he really wanted to let him know that he was still cared for.

And indeed Paradox was still filled with much care as he continued to look down at the angry and confused Le-matoran. Up to the point that he did not at all care about how mean some of those questions sounded. He knew that Green was just angry and because of that anger, filled with many questions. So regardless of how unkind his tone was upon asking those questions, he wasn't even going to THINK of turning his back on him. Nor would he return any anger with more anger. Paradox had seem enough out of this war that adding up anger in a metaphorical pile only made things worse.

Instead, Paradox just got down on a right foot and a left knee, now giving Green a look of knowledge as he then kindly asked: "Now let me ask you something: Why did Jesus die on the cross all those years ago"?

Green was actually silent for a while, widening his eyes at this question for a short couple of seconds before then answering: "For our sins".

"Yes, but what else"?, Paradox asked him.

Green widened his eyes further. There was actually ANOTHER reason for that? If so then Green wasn't 100% sure. But then again, now that he really thought about it, he had never really given much thought to the Son of God these past few months. He suddenly started to feel like he had making a fool out of himself as he then thought of the fact that Jesus had died on that cross at ALL when he could've run from those roman captives before they captured him. But why didn't he run?, Green thought.

As if being able to read just what Green was thinking, Paradox answered: "It was so God could finally free us from our sins, yes". "But what good would that have done if he did not have any intent to forgive us all"? "In dying on that cross, Jesus took every single ounce of sin on this entire earth and this entire universe down with him". "Not just because it was the only way, but also because that was how much God and Jesus loved us". "Do you not see Green"? "God loved this sin-filled world, that he forgave us by sending Jesus to die as the final sacrifice". "You see, back then, sacrifices were given to The Lord as forgiveness offerings".

Green tilted his head a little at that.

"It's explained better in Leviticus"., Paradox explained. "But back to Jesus". "I believe Jesus loved you with a fiery passion, stronger than any infinite power". "And on of the things that proves that to me are all the things he did before and during his persecution". "He knew we sinned, yet he performed miracles". "He knew we were sinners, yet he asked sinners to follow him". "He knew how terrible all of our sins would become as the Earth days increased, yet to this very day he still watches over us with more love than anyone will ever have for anyone else".

Greens eyes widened as he suddenly remembered reading about this. How could he have been so blind before!? For too long now, he had been holding onto the anger he felt from the sins of others, refusing to forgive them and believing that it would hurt them more than it could EVER hurt him. And as he thought of it now, boy was he dead wrong. For too long he had let his refusal to forgive others stay with him and as a result, he had also refused to ask forgiveness for his own sins. Yet a part of him had always known that Jesus was still up there sitting at the right hand of God, WATCHING him. Green nearly shook his head as he thought now of what a hypocrite he had been for his refusal to forgive.

"And theres something in the Bible that proves THAT too"., Paradox told him, seeing that he was finally getting Green back to whatever good side he had before all of this. Green gave Paradox a look that told him he had his full attention as Paradox continued: "When Jesus was being nailed to that cross, and as the romans humiliated him, do you know how Jesus responded, despite how despicable their actions were". "Despite the fact that they tore his back open, shoved a crown of thorns on his head, beat him and spat on him, do you know what He said when they humiliated him as he hung there in unbearable pain"?

Green felt a tear slide from his eyes as he answered: "Father, forgive them".

Then both finishing: "For they know not what they do".

Green just felt more tears slide down his face as he thought of how hard it must've been for someone who had never token a beating until that point in his life, for someone who was perfect and the Son of God, to shout this out to his father as everyone humiliated and rejected him. Whatever love he must've felt at that point, must have been far more powerful than any amount of disrespect the Romans had been giving him. Just to love someone, let alone every sinner in the world to that sort of extent, he almost couldn't imagine it.

"And once Jesus had risen from the dead, sin, EVERYONE'S sin, was defeated"., Paradox told him with a voice of soft joy. "It's because The Lord loved us that much, that we are forever forgiven upon accepting that sacrifice and serving him faithfully". "And it's because of that love and forgiveness, that when my lights go out, I'll get to see Jesus face to face, and finally be able to say in person: thank you". "For The Lord loved everyone enough to forgive them in such a way, I will lay down my own life if it means protecting you from your own sins". "Especially since he has already suffered for them".

Green was absolutely stunned by Paradox's answer. He was willing to protect the very races of which had wronged him, because God had forgiven all sins through Jesus. Not to call it wrong or anything, this answer made perfect sense to him. But the fact that it came from a member of an exiled race of superior people, was... it was almost impossible to imagine. But it was enough for Green to now realize his own mistakes over the course of these past few days. All this time, he had refused to forgive so many sins from so many others, yet he had never truly thought about what Jesus would've done had he been in his shoes.

In that moment then, Green had looked back over to the council base where he saw Jala and his mother still arguing over what had just happened earlier, then bowing his head and closing his eyes, feeling tears still flowing down his mask as he silently prayed: Dear Lord, please forgive me, for refusing to forgive others, for you have forgiven me. I ask that you would forgive my dad for everything he has done to me and to the Toabots. I ask that you would forgive Edward for trying to shoot me and instead shooting Billy and Ketongu. And I ask that yould forgive the Makutacons for what they are trying to do now. Lastly I would like to thank you for sending your own son to forgive the sins of this universe, and it's in your most holy name I pray, ask and thank you. Amen.

As Green had then finished that prayer, Paradox couldn't help but smile at the young Le-matoran. For as he had seen him praying, he also saw a forever changed Le-matoran. One who was changed for the better.

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Yeah, I realize that forgiveness is a current issue in everybody's world today, and I perfectly understand how hard it can be. But trust a guy here from experience: When you forgive somebody, regardless of what they've done, while also looking at how The Lord forgave us, you will see that you are also free. Not only from the prison you trapped yourself in by refusing to forgive, but also from your sins. Please try and take this to heart as you all live the rest of your days on this earth, for The Lord loves all people and is willing to welcome them into his open arms. But only if they give their hearts to him and gain enough courage through him to forgive all for what they do along with spreading his word with a passion for him in their hearts. Are you willing to forgive because of what Jesus did for you? Thank you all for reading the story this far, there's still more to come, and please have a Lord-blessed day! :0)