A challenge many struggle with is dealing with past mistakes.
We must recognize the severity of our sins (cf. Luke 18:13), and have godly sorrow that produces repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Once we have done what God requires to have sin forgiven though, that sin becomes a part of our past and should be viewed accordingly.
Remembering past sins in ways God desires is important.
Just as Paul was humbled by his past mistakes (1 Corinthians 15:9), we too should realize we are nothing without God’s grace. Remembering sins we have committed should help us show compassion toward individuals who struggle with mistakes we once did. Furthermore, the saying “experience is the best teacher” can apply to mistakes we have made, helping us not only to teach ourselves, but to warn others.
Remembering sins of the past in ways that haunt us, though, can be destructive.
Doing so can lead an individual to be hesitant to do the work of the Lord, out of fear he or she is not “good enough.” It can cause one to be hesitant to speak out against sins, for fear he or she will be a hypocrite. It can “beat one up” internally as the joy, hope, and peace that should exist in the mindset of Christians is replaced with sorrow and anxiety. This is a problem, but it is one God’s Word provides answers to.
Apart from Jesus, every man and woman who has lived on earth has sinned (Romans 3:9-10).
David was at one time an adulterer, liar, and murderer (2 Samuel 11). Peter was at one time a denier of Christ (Matthew 26:69-74). Paul was at one time a persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:1-2).
Later, David’s sin was forgiven (2 Samuel 12:13). Peter played an important role in the establishment of Christ’s church (Acts 2:14-41; Acts 10), and became an elder of a local church (1 Peter 5:1). Paul was God’s appointed apostle to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:7-9), and was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write about half of the New Testament. These men had sinned in the past, but were useful to God because they were repentant.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul warned the church at Corinth about those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. In verse 11, He said “and such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Christianity is not about who we were, but who we are. If we have done what God requires for Him to forgive a sin, why dwell on the harm it caused? We do not want to take lightly any thoughts of future sin or present sin, but past sin that has been forgiven should not torment us.
The church that Jesus built is composed not of individuals who have never sinned, but of individuals who know they have sinned and therefore need a Savior to escape eternal punishment.
To any who believe they can never be good enough to be accepted by God, consider that Jesus said “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).
He is the “great physician” who will spiritually heal any who will submit to His teachings. But we must start obeying Him.
To those who have been healed but still struggle with the past, consider that “God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” to give eternal life (Titus 1:2) to those who will repent and turn to Him. If we reject this gift out of worry we have done too horribly to be forgiven, we deny the gift Jesus gave His life for.
We cannot change the past. But we can resolve to obey God moving forward.
Won’t we all make that choice and proclaim with Paul “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Won’t we forget “those things which are behind”, and reach forth to “those things which are before”, pressing “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
– Michael Hickox