Fresh Start part 4
I've had a fresh start or two in my life. Probably because I'm not afraid to try things. I've got a lot of milage on my tires, if I can say it that way. I've been around. Done some stuff. And when you try things... sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. But either way you live and learn. A big part of the process is just going for it. Its not always the destination. Its the journey. And sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can change course. That's what happened to the woman in John chapter 8. Literally. They were going to stone her. And Jesus, of course, was there for salvation and not condemnation. So He had something else in mind. He had a fresh start for her in mind. When Jesus asked if, after His "whoever is without sin can cast the first stone" speech, there was anybody to accuse or condemn her... "She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). Not because what she did was ok, but because people can't change unless they have an opportunity to change. And an atmosphere to change. That's what grace is all about. Grace equips and empowers us to be able to try things. To make mistakes and learn from our mistakes. Let me say it like this, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Liberty. Freedom. And freedom works two ways. There is the freedom FROM sin, where we can lay it aside and walk in newness of life. And there is freedom TO love. Freedom to live. If those religious folk--who, according to the law, were in the right to stone her--had killed that woman... that would have been the end of her story. Game over. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. But because Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body--was there... her story had a different ending. And, when you understand the everlasting part of everlasting life, you understand that her story really didn't have an "ending" as we think of it at all. Because love never stops. A chapter may end. And that's good. Because not every chapter is a greatest hits compilation. Some chapters NEED to end. Some doors need to close before others can open. But while we don't let the past drag us down... we can learn from it. Learning and growing is what life is all about. A fresh start comes from knowing what you did wrong and then being able to do it right. When you know better... you can do better. Knowledge is power. You can't believe what you don't know, but knowing and believing the love of God that is inside you is what lets it come out through you. Love renews us. Revitalizes us. Love makes life worth living... and love is what makes living possible. So if you think you've screwed up too much... you haven't. My dad always says every day above ground is a good day. Endless possibilities. Another chance. And if you mess up... get back up. Dust yourself off. Every new beginning is some other beginning's end, right? You can't walk in newness of life without walking. Don't worry about messing up. Learn from your mistakes. Leave behind what you don't need. Learn and grow. A fresh start can be a good thing. A great thing. A GOD thing!