The Past And The Future

Each of us has a past.  Some are more sordid than others, but still those pasts exist.  No doubt there are things we have done for which we are ashamed.  However, we should never let our pasts dictate our futures.  We all have the blessing of free will.  We can consciously make the decision to live differently than we have in our pasts.  God has given each of us today.  It is up to us what we will do with it.

Thankfully, God can see things about us that we might not see.  Perhaps the greatest example of this is found in the life of Saul of Tarsus/the apostle Paul.  Paul was not shy about relaying his past errors.  In fact, he wrote, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor. 15:9).  Likewise, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:  And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers” (Gal. 1:13-14).  Also, “Though I might have confidence in the flesh.  If any other thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Phil. 3:4-6).  However, there is one such record that may be the definitive commentary about how Paul felt about his past sins.  That is found in the book of First Timothy.  Paul wrote, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:12-15).

How deeply distressed Paul must have been to refer to himself as the “chief” of sinners.  Yet, today, that is probably not the way that many people think of Paul.  Instead, Paul is fondly remembered as being a faithful and courageous servant of Christ.  That is because God knew that Paul’s past would not ultimately define him.  As Paul put it, “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.”  Through the grace of God, Saul’s sins did not hinder him from Paul’s future.

Along with that, Paul also wrote more of what led to his change.  In regard to labeling himself the “least of the apostles,” he also wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am:  and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:  yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).  God’s grace gave Paul a chance to become “a new creature,” and Paul did not waste it (2 Cor. 5:17).

Then there are the references to Paul persecuting the church and wasting it.  Paul also mentioned, “But it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb,and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” (Gal. 1:15-16).  Again, because of the grace of God, Paul’s history did not have the final say.

Now, let us go back to ourselves.  As mentioned earlier, God has given each of us today.  What will we do with it?  Will we continue to live as the sinners of the past, or will we accept the grace of God by obeying the Gospel.  We can also become new creatures.  We can start writing our futures.  Like Paul, our pasts do not have to define us.  Instead, we should be grateful that God sees more about ourselves than we sometimes do.  All of us can choose to become children of God and live for the Lord.  How do you want to be remembered?
~ Corey Barnette