History.

Monday, November 01, 2010
History. I’m a history buff, I’ll admit. I really enjoy American History, especially. I'm just nerd enough to enjoy reading the writings of the founding fathers of our country. I love history. But there’s some history I just don’t enjoy, and really have no right to dig up. When someone brings their past to the Lord and gives it to Him, it’s not my business to dig it back up. I just wonder today…
As a young boy, David stood up before the mighty giant, Goliath, with just a sling and a few smooth stones. Regardless of what all the rest of the soldiers of the army of Israel said, he stood, unashamedly and unafraid. But I wonder: had this episode happened later in his life, after the poor choices that brought Bathsheba into his life, would he have stood against Goliath then? Or would the “people of God” have reminded him of how unfit and inadequate he was to stand against the giant because of his poor choices in the past?
As a profession, Rahab didn’t exactly have a proud living. She was a harlot, and in case you didn’t know, that’s not a glamorous way to make ends meet. Her life was consumed by the secret things of dark bedrooms. Everyone knew who she was. Everyone knew what she was. So when the men of God came scouting out her city for the army of God and she had a choice to make when they needed her help, I wonder if the thought ever crossed her mind that she wasn’t worthy? I wonder if her contemporaries that knew who she was and what she was would be surprised to find that she’s neatly tucked into the family tree of Jesus Christ Himself? I wonder…
Paul hadn’t always been Paul. In his earlier years he was known as Saul of Tarsus. His world revolved around wiping out this “Jesus movement” that was desecrating Israel and was quickly spreading to all men. Whatever it took – whether it was imprisoning these people, or even having them put to death – he was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. Then when God gave him the Road to Damascus experience, he chose to walk away from his history toward the One that loved him and called him to a higher purpose. The first things he encountered in his journey with Christ? You guessed it – the church. And the church knew who he was. They knew what he was. And they had no intention of forgetting. But God had other plans.
Scripture says that when we bring our sin to Christ, He removes it as far as the east is from the west, never to bring it up again. God’s Word also says that our confessed sin is buried in the depths of the sea. So why is it that when God puts it there, that there are, at times, those who gear up in spiritual SCUBA gear to go treasure hunting in that same sea?
Church, sometimes we make it so hard for folks to be forgiven by Christ and begin living for Him. We allow their history to dictate who they’ll always be, regardless of God’s grace and mercy already radiating from their lives.
God has used the experiences of a dear, dear friend to open my eyes to my own “history digging”. And He’s used this to teach me one thing: when He washes someone’s sin away, leave it be. Just leave it be. Let them move on into the glorious plans He has for them, and away from the mistakes and failures that defined them in the past. God has said to me, “I have forgiven those sins, so don’t you dare go throwing them up into their face now. You have no right.”
And so, I’ll continue to read American History every chance I get. I'll study the founding fathers. I’ll read up on the Native Americans and all that they were. But when I look at you – I’ll leave the history alone. After all, once God forgives, the only thing that matters is the future. And friend – if you’re reading this – know this: your future has never been brighter.


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com