Fresh Start part 1
I've said this many times, and will undoubtedly say it many more times: The truth--that God is love and He loves you--HAS set us free and made us free... but, unfortunately, so many of us are not experiencing this freedom. Because while the truth HAS set us free... in reality it is the truth you KNOW and BELIEVE that equips and empowers you to EXPERIENCE that freedom. So many times we let the past dictate the present and future. And even though there ARE mistakes in your past--and in my past, in everybody's past--they don't have to define us. On the cross, well, let me quote a memory verse, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). See, in the beginning we were made in the image and likeness of God. But it was dark, and we didn't know what that image was. We didn't know who WE were, because we didn't know who HE was. And then on the cross, the light of the world shined. We were conformed into the image of God's Son. In a very real way the truth (that had always been true) BECAME true... to us. We understood that He is our heavenly Father and we are His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. And here's where I'm going with this Rant series: When that truth about who you really are... that truth about who God really is... when that truth hits you, you get a fresh start. And not just a new lease on life, but a totally and completely new life! Jesus' life! His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love! The life that we experience, not by trying really hard to be like Jesus, but by simply letting Him live in us, and through us, and as us. And if Jesus takes the wheel, so to speak, and if He's taking us upward and God-ward... then we don't need to worry about what has come before. We can leave a lot of stuff behind. Lay it aside. Look at Psalm 25:7, "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD." And while that is an Old Covenant verse where David was asking for something... on this side of the cross all of the promises of God are yea and amen. He doesn't remember the sins of our youth. He isn't holding our transgressions against us. Love doesn't keep a record of rights and wrongs. When we were made new creatures in Christ we were given a fresh start. When we were conformed to the image of God's Son we "got" everything He had for us. He wanted the best for us so He gave the best to us. He gave HIMSELF to us. So we don't have to try to be someone we're not. We don't have to let the things we've done drag us down. If Jesus--if LOVE--is holding you up NOTHING can drag you down. And Jesus (love) IS holding you up! You HAVE been given that fresh start. I think there's probably some value in getting healing and closure from the past... but I also believe you can't always get that. Sometimes you just have to let go and let God. Let what's in the past BE in the past. And just keep moving forward!