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Starting Over- Again
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 Starting Over... Again
Samuel Johnson is noted for saying that every man knows that of himself what he dare not tell even his dearest friend. Thoughts of our own sins and failures may cause us to come to a similar conclusion. Some have driven themselves to a painful and early departure from this life due to this realization, others have found eternal life in Jesus Christ. Some have floundered in hopelessness and despair for many years due to this reality as well. What do we do with such knowledge concerning ourselves? One person in Scripture that dealt with this same issue was the apostle Paul. He had at one time made it his life’s goal to stamp out Christianity and especially the knowledge of Christ Himself in the world, thinking he was doing God a service. He shares his own autobiography in 1 Timothy 1:12-13: “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.” He didn’t just dislike Christianity and Christians, he hated and persecuted them, even to the death at times. How did he deal with the knowledge that this had been true of him? He tells us in his epistle to the Philippians, chapter 3: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (vv.13-14)
Did Paul just pretend these things never happened? We know better, since Jesus Christ doesn’t give us pretend salvation but genuinely saves sinners and makes us new creations in Him! This reality is available for all sinners, not just Paul who called himself the chief of sinners. We know that the voice of conscience has driven many to an early grave, yet the Word of God has this glorious truth: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He made alive with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross…” (Colossians 2:13-14) Often we have scars that remind us of past pains, yet scars themselves are a sign of healing!
Now that we have begun a new year, we as Paul can realize that in Christ we are new creations and we too can put our pasts behind us with God’s grace. If we have let bad habits overshadow the good we desired to do, we can repent and begin again. If we have even allowed the good to prevent us from pursuing the best we can also turn from this and begin again with the Lord! The BBN Bible Institute (www. BBNBI.org) offers the course, Putting Your Past Behind You (21200), this may be just what the Great Physician would prescribe for you! Please tell your friends about the many helps available at BBN radio and BBN Bible Institute.
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Written By:
David White
Date Posted:
1/10/2014 3:06 PM
Number of Views:
6332
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