GETTING PAST THE PAST
Yesterday we talked about unhealthy ways to deal with our past, so what is the best way to face it? We need to look to the Word and agree with God’s perspective on our past. God says when we ask Jesus into our hearts, our old life vanishes and we become a new person.
Ponder this:
You may know that you are a new person in your head, but is it your reality? Does this truth feel true to you?
“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”—2 Corinthians 5:17
The Apostle Paul, who penned this verse, had a terrible past of persecuting and killing Christians. However, he understood this truth, and it allowed him to accept the grace of God and move forward in freedom.
“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” —1 Timothy 1:13–15
To let our past die, we must change our way of thinking. The old way of thinking doesn’t line up with God’s Word, so it doesn’t produce life. When we accept what the Bible says and renew our minds with the truth, we—like Paul—can walk in freedom. In order to walk in freedom from our past, we need to start making different choices, based on a new, biblical understanding of who we are.
Most people don’t understand the gospel. They think that if they work hard to be good more days than they are bad, they get to go to heaven. That’s not true. Jesus has already paid the debt for our sin. Forgiveness is received, not earned. If we think we have to earn forgiveness from God, we will make others earn forgiveness from us. Here is the gospel:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”—Ephesians 2:8–9
Rather than trying to earn forgiveness, simply receive God’s forgiveness by faith. It will free your heart and allow you to forgive others.
It would be great if, once we had received forgiveness, we never thought about our past again. But the enemy will continue to bring up our past every day, waiting for weak moments to whisper our failures to us. We have to resist him every time he accuses us, which happens every day. Remember, he is the accuser of Christians and the “father of lies” (Revelation 12:10). We defeat him by knowing and speaking the truth.
Write 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 in your own words.
Read Romans 8:28 out loud.
Now make that same verse a personal prayer. It may sound something like this:
“Thank you, God, that in all things You work for my good, because You know I love You, and You have called me according to Your purpose.”
God never said that forgiveness would be easy. In fact, following the instructions in his Word takes courage and strength, but they will lead us into pathways of righteousness where we can live again, free from the ghosts of our past. No more guilt, no more hiding, no more shame. Free.
It takes faith to believe that these words are true, but when you do, they will change your life. When you trust that God’s Word is true, and you believe that you have been made new and that he can make you whole again, life as you know it will never be the same. As you begin to see yourself the way God sees you, you will begin to see others differently. You’ll find yourself with open hands, releasing offenses, and receiving abundant life. You will be living in the Tree of Life.