From Isaiah 43 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
It is difficult for me to visit my oldest brother. He talks endlessly about the glory days. Back in the day, regaling tales about himself and people I do not know or do not remember. Then he laughs as he accuses other family members who are known for embellishing a story.
My sister did me the greatest favor a few years ago as I talked to her about troubling memories from my past. She told me that it wasn’t that way at all. My perceptions of the past weren’t even accurate. That freed me greatly. I let go of the past since I cannot even trust my own feelings about what happened.
I see a little of that in these quoted passages from Isaiah. The past is gone, nothing can be done to change it in the telling. This new thing however is in the here and now. It is active and alive in this moment and that is something that makes a difference.
What is God doing in your life right now? It doesn’t matter what you were, what you did or what others might have said or done. Tomorrow is shaped by today not yesterday. God is working in your life now, don’t you know it? He is asking you, “Can you feel Me?” Perhaps your past is holding you back. Perhaps your fear of tomorrow is stopping you from moving today. Or perhaps you do not know God as He would have you know Him.
Exodus 32:29 Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
Today, this day.
I can relate. Satan will keep us dwelling in the PAST to rob us of our joy in the PRESENTand stunt our growth spiritually in the FUTURE. A friend of mine told me once, “judge the past”, by that I mean “shut the door on it” Phillippians 4:13 –“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We have an UNLIMITED rescource in Jesus.
AMEN Ron, AMEN
If I’ve learned anything in this life, it is that all things exist in tension with something else. The contrast to Isaiah here is Paul to the Galatians (6:7 KJV): “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Our past is behind us, we can’t undo it, and no amount of worry will fix it, but everything we do for good or evil will boomerang on us eventually. It may not even be us it impacts the most, often those closest to us take the brunt of it. I like that phrase “Judge the past”, but to say that means shutting the door on it is problematic. If we try to ignore the past or stuff it in a closet (shutting the door on it), it will eventually come pouring out and crush us. However, if we apply Judgement to it, as a judge weighs the evidence and applies the Truth and the Law to it, then that is wise. Satan loves to use our past as a club, and ignoring him won’t help, but confessing it releases its power over us, understanding the law lets us realize and accept the natural consequences, and proclaiming the Truth will shut him up quick. That truth is (Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Well said Jack, but I intentionally left out any references to judging the past. Who can judge aright if perceptions of events are in error. Who knows the heart of man? I would say only God does and that would apply to my past motivations. I’ve applied much rationalization to my actions of the past. In doing so I have “changed history”. So I deal with today, today.