Deuteronomy 32:7, English Standard Version

“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.”

When you talk to most people you will find that the topic of the past can be one that is heavy. Often times the thoughts of the past will bring along painful memories of difficult times. It may involve deep regrets for things that they have done that they wish they could undo. Or it may be that they long to be back in earlier days with family and friends who are no longer alive. When it comes to the life of a Chrisitan the past should be seen in a bit of a different perspective.

On one hand, the Bible tells that when we believe in Jesus we become a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. In the same way, the sin, the mistakes, the hurt, and the memories of who we used to be are also gone. In fact, God’s Word says that He remembers our sins no more. Because of that we do not need to dwell on the past and allow the guilt and shame of our past to affect us today. At the same time though, we also have a responsibility not to forget what Jesus has saved us from. That means that we think back to the person that we used to be and learn. We remember the mistakes and rather than allow them to bring guilt and shame to us, we allow them to teach us what we should and should not do.

I think back to my own past and there are so many things that I regret doing. So many times, that I turned my back upon my Savior and failed to acknowledge who He is. There are so many times that I was not the example that He calls us to be. But, I am not the only one who remembers those mistakes, the enemy is all too happy to remind me of them as well. But the enemy does not want me to learn from the past, he wants me to be discouraged and filled with shame. He wants me to believe that because of what I have done I can never be redeemed and cannot do anything good.

I want to remind those who read today not to look back upon your past with shame, but instead to allow it to remind you just how much you are loved. The Bible says that even when we were still sinner Christ died for us so that we can be reunited into a relationship with the Father. The past isn’t a reminder of how terrible we are, but of how merciful our Father is towards us. He loves us and He has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us. Place your hope and your trust in Him today and He will guide you from the one you were in the past to the one He has destined for you to be now and in the future. Amen and praise the Lord!