Don't Judge My Future Based Upon My Past!

“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19

Have you ever bought a book because of the title only to read the book and be quite disappointed because the title was better than the actual book?

Recently I’ve spent time taking some of the books I’ve read off the shelves in my office to make room for the books that I’ve yet to read that are on my “must read list”. I came across one of the books entitled, “Don’t Judge My Future by My Past”. What a title! The title alone is all I need to remind me that my future does NOT depend on my past! (Who knows if the book will be as good as the title. I’ve only read four chapters so far….but, the title says it all to me!)

The cover of the book has a picture of the rearview mirror of a car. You can see in the rearview mirror a tornado and very dark clouds. But, if you look past the rearview mirror you can see sunshine and clear skies ahead.

The picture on the cover of this book and the title of it says so much to me that I think I need to frame it and hang it up in my office!

To be honest, I had put this book in a special place because I knew that I needed to read it. But, I got so busy with life that I forgot about it. And the truth is that while “being so busy with life” I have continued too many times to judge my future based upon my past! But, God has been proving me wrong again and again. He’s been saying very loudly and clearly, “I DO NOT judge your future based upon your past because of Jesus- you have NO past!”

See, for all too long I’ve believed that I could never really be used mightily or accomplish a lot for the LORD because others were judging or might judge me based upon my past. But, the LORD is showing me over and over again that He doesn’t really care what others have to say about me or my past! And He is also showing me that it is really not about me or my past anyway! And He’s also been showing me that the ONLY one holding me back from an exciting and fulfilling future is me, myself and I!

It really is all about Him and what He has done, and how my past doesn’t count because of what He has done and is doing! Unlike other people, the LORD’S grace and forgiveness is NOT shame-based. When He says, “I forgive you… the past is the past,” He doesn’t follow it up with a “but!” For Him, the past is just that - the past. He throws our pasts into the depths of the sea according to His Word and then He puts up a “no fishing” sign! He, because of Jesus, has chosen divine amnesia.

I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who suffers from this problem! How about you? Do you ever find yourself focusing on your past failures so much so that you fail to move forward into the future with hope and confidence? Is your past really past? Have you asked Him to forgive your past? Is there someone around you that keeps reminding you of it? Where are you focusing? Are you focused on the rearview mirror on the past storms or do you see the restored sunshine and clear skies ahead?

If your past is not really your past, what do you plan to do about it? Do you plan to just keep looking in the rearview mirror? Because if you do, you and I both know what will happen! So, it’s time to close the door. If you have asked Him for forgiveness and you’ve asked those whom you have hurt; close the door on it. Forgive yourself and move on! There’s a GREAT future ahead because of Him! Lest you look back on your life only to realize the LORD had not only a fantastic title for the “book” of your life; but that the actual book was just as super as the title itself!

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:8-9

Gripped by Grace, Pastor Brad Hoefs

Other Blogs by Brad:

"Fresh Hope"

"As the Pulpit Turns"

Websites to check out:

www.communityofgrace.net

www.FreshHope.us

www.HeyGod.net