Your Past Is In The Past

Making mistakes can be devastating, even career or life-changing. God, in His infinite wisdom, included such people in the Bible. They are there for us to learn from their errors. Their sins didn’t eliminate them from God’s use. Their errors encouraged them to trust God despite their past. No one is perfect. God still chooses to forgive and is willing to use sinners in the future.

Below are some examples who rose above their past and allowed the Almighty to use them for the benefit of others.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, about the age of 50, watched your first-born Son die upon the cross. She didn’t run back to her home and say to herself, “Why should I try trust God now?” Instead, she went to the Upper Room and prayed with the Disciples (Acts 1:14). Then she saw the power of God and answered prayer on the day of Pentecost.

Peter, the big mouth disciple, said, “I’m better than others, and I will never deny you, Jesus,” but he did. Yet God used him on the day of Pentecost to speak, and 3,000 experienced a relationship with Jesus. Peter even wrote two books of the Bible. God does forgive and use repentant people in His work.

Samuel, an Old Testament prophet, was a foster child. Given by his mother to Eli, the priest, to raise. God spared Samuel from the lifestyle of Eli’s two sons. By his godly living, Samuel won the hearts of his community. Young Samuel could have resented his foster parent and his new family, but he didn’t. Living for God was his heart’s desire, which God blessed.

God chose to use Moses, another adopted child and murderer. At age 80, God spoke to him: “I want you to lead others, Israel,” and he did. Later, Moses failed to follow God’s instructions about securing water from a rock. Shortly after that, Moses spent 40 days listening to God, resulting in the Ten Commandments to Israel and the world. Proving that God uses people after they sin. Moses led Israel for 40 years. 

Paul, persecuted believers! Yet God used him to start many churches and to write much of the New Testament. The believer’s life wasn’t easy for him. Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, yet he kept serving God (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

The above individuals experienced the love and grace of God. By society’s standards, some of them should never accomplish anything for God. But the grace they experienced is the same grace that is available to you. With that knowledge, what will you dedicate yourself to do for our amazing God because your past is in the past?