I remember one day that it was time to finally clean out my car. I was in college and so this task was something I continually put off…until finally I felt like at any minute Oscar the Grouch was going to pop out of my ash tray and inform me that I was driving his garbage can around.
So…I loaded up all my junk in my hands and walked into my office at the church I was serving—when all of a sudden—the phone began ringing.
I seriously freaked out! “How in the world am I going to answer my phone with all of this garbage in my hands?” Then this brilliant idea hit me, “Hey Perry, why don’t you just throw away the garbage so you can move on to what needs to be done.” (I think it was from God!) :-)
After the phone call (don’t remember who it was) I sat in my office and thought about that experience—and it ROCKED my world. You see, I have a “not so clean” past…as I often say, there are definitely some skeletons in my closet…which causes me to struggle with feelings of doubt and just not feeling good enough. (Anyone there?)
And when I deal with my past I often think about that time in my office with the garbage. The Lord has burned that experience in my mind and uses it to remind me to put down the garbage so that I can get on with what is important.
I’ve learned this lesson about the past—if you don’t let it die then it won’t let you live!
It’s funny—the Bible says in II Corinthians 5:17 that we are made new in Christ…and in II Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus became sin for us so that we might be made righteous. BUT…there are just some days that I do not feel “new” and “righteous.” Either through some seemingly random string of events…or a conversation with someone I knew before coming to Christ…I am reminded of something “stupid” that I did and those voices pop in my head.
You know the voices I am speaking of, “God doesn’t really love you…You are not forgiven, that is for others, not you…If people knew what you have done.” I could literally go on and on. AND—let me be very clear—it’s a FIGHT! (Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are at war!)
BUT…God’s Word is so clear—put down the garbage so that you can get on with greater things. I have always found the story of Paul to be incredibly fascinating…take a look at Acts 8:3 and notice the phrase “house to house.” Paul literally went house to house essentially murdering Christians—talk about a bad past!
Now go to Acts 20:20 and look…notice that Paul is still going from “house to house,” but NOW he is telling the world about Jesus. God changed Paul—took him from death to life…and used him to write the majority of the New Testament. God is into redeeming the screwed up life.
One more passage…check out the story in Zechariah 3:1-7—AMAZING! Here the enemy is trying to accuse Joshua (ever felt accused?) And the LORD moves in and the symbolism that follows rocks my world every time I read it.
If you don’t let your past die—it won’t let you live. For some reason I just feel incredibly led to blog about that today. I know there are those who wrestle with the things they did before coming to Christ…but (one more passage) just stop and take a look at Psalm 103:10-12…what an awesome and amazing God!!!
Let me say one more thing before I go…this post is NOT an excuse to just go out and live any way you want and then say it is in the past and merely used God as a “feel good mechanism,” but rather one to encourage those who have made some serious mistakes and are trying to wrestle through them. Folks…when you and I received Christ—we are FORGIVEN…OF EVERYTHING…that’s just how good He is! Throw away the garbage…and get on with what He has called you to.