Past is Past
Isn’t is awesome how when Jesus saves us, we become a completely new person? He can take all of our sins and cast them as far as the east is from the west. He can cleanse and heal us from old hurts and scars. He can make us as fresh as a field full of Lavender (I happen to like Lavender). We truly are a new person. God remembers our past no more. Too bad everyone else doesn’t forget, too.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” ~Psalm 103:12
Too often, our friends and family refuse to forget our mistakes and our mishaps. We are dragged through the mud by statements like, “Don’t give me that ‘Holy Roller’ attitude! I know what you’re REALLY like!” or “I know who you REALLY are!“
Well no, you don’t. Because the ones who want to slander you are holding onto that one moment in time when you slipped up, or didn’t live for Christ, or maybe didn’t even know Him at all! To them, it doesn’t matter if it was 20 or 30 years ago, or 20 or 30 minutes ago. Your accusers will remember the smallest detail of your life forever. But to God, it’s forgotten. We often allow those we love though, to oppress us, keeping us in that black hole of the sin that God forgave us for. They simply refuse to allow us out, always pushing us back down into it. We allow them to because simply put, we just don’t know how to get over it and forgive ourselves, or may not even know that we’re allowing it to happen. Who cares what you did wherever or whenever? If you have asked God to forgive you…He DID. The past is in the past.
Many times the reason we come under so much attack by our family and friends is because, 1) Our relationship with Christ makes them uncomfortable; and 2) they simply refuse to let go of the past. Yes, it is a little more difficult when dealing with family. They watched us grow up. We like to live in the past, remembering the “good ‘ol days,” and unfortunately remembering the mistakes others have made.
One of the hardest things I’ve ever done is to separate myself from certain people, friends or family. Because frankly, I don’t like who I become when I’m around them. They belittle me, trash talk about me (whether I’m present or not), and always try to trip me up by asking me question after question about the things I do. And when finally I get flustered and mess up, they are the first ones to attack. “Well I thought YOU were a perfect Christian?” You can’t pass that off as “just joking.” Yes, I am a Christian. And the beauty of being one is that I know I’m forgiven of my sins. It doesn’t mean I’m perfect.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” ~2 Corinthians 5:17-18
How sad that people only want to remember what you did “back when,” but can’t accept who you are right now. Honestly, they’re missing the best part of you! Let me encourage you today: Don’t listen to them! Be who you are in Christ. Enjoy the new you, and don’t let anyone try to push you back into the pit!
