Out With The Old

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Isaiah43:18NIV

Putting the past behind us is easier said than done. We have a tendency to beat ourselves up over some of the daft things we did during the past year and so we become our own worst enemy. I have found that our true friends have already excused and forgiven us, but in the meantime we sulk in our own self pity. Do you recognise this characteristic? I think we all share it to some degree.

I like the thought that God is already doing a new thing in our lives. That’s a good reason to let go of the past. When God is at work on our behalf, He doesn’t do anything in half measures. He is complete, and thorough. I fully know and understand that we can’t always forget, but we don’t have to rake it up and sift through the rubble, do we? Being a God of Love, He will replace all the negative things in our heart with good, positive improvements.

You have heard the old phrase, “Let go and let God”, well here it is, all clean, shiney and sparkling for the new year. Why not take God at His Word, accept and apply this promise, and I include myself in this resolution too. Paul says it in Romans in a slightly different way. All those difficulties and hard times of the past year(s) will work together to complete His purpose and plan for your life (and mine too). You see, that is a promise for the faithful believers, and that’s us. Let’s go into 2019 with these verses in our hearts and minds!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans8:28NIV

Until

...and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” Exodus 10:26

Life is a great unknown, and this thought can either distress or comfort us. In a way, it’s better not knowing about future health issues, but sometimes we want to have some peace about important things like what is ahead for our children and grandchildren. We want them to be safe, healthy, and secure. But at what price?

The children of Israel were waiting to leave Egypt for the promised land, but having lived in the foreign country for hundreds of years, they didn’t know how they would get on leaving. They were used to the restrictions of their masters, but wanted some comforting words about the journey they faced. The words of the Lord, given to Moses are: we do not know ... until we arrive there.

Would you be happy with this level of uncertainty? After all, God knows everything and He could have said more. The fact is we all must deal with not knowing the future until we get there. I take comfort in the fact that when I get there, I will find that Jesus has already arrived! There are sad and bad people who claim to know the future, and some gullible folks will pay good money to know their ‘good’ future. Be warned, there are no psychic lottery millionaires!

Having lived through a loved one’s serious illness, pain and ultimate passing to Glory, I will be content not knowing what is ahead, and happy to leave my times in God’s loving and comforting hands. In the words of the verse, I am content that I do not know until I arrive there.

Going Before

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Dueteronomy 31:8

There is more than one way of ‘going before’, and I am not just referring to a loved one going on to heaven before us. When our children are younger, and you want to protect, or ease their fears, you go before them into the situation. Simply put it could be just going into a dark room, and putting the light on before they enter the darkness. That eases their worry, because the light shows that it is safe now. It might be when they are learning to swim, and the parent shows them that they can trust the water to hold them up. You go before them to show by example. These are common, everyday situations, used everyday by all parents to make their child’s growing up years not so scary. You have been there and have ‘gone before’ to show the way. You were there and visible.

I have become more and more aware of role reversal in my life as I get older. God in His infinite wisdom has granted me the priviledge of being a Dad to two wise and terrific daughters. Lately, I have been amazed at how much I learn from their faith, and words of encouragement. Our God is a great God, and he has gone before me once again.... Oh yes, the other kind of ‘going before! Look at the verse again.

I was never quite sure about the old chorus, “Standing somewhere in the shadows, you’ll find Jesus”. I figured if He was there why be just out of sight in the shadows of my life? But what about the thought that Jesus is already away ahead of us, and is ‘going before’ our ‘now’ and is already ‘in’ our future? Out of the normal time sphere, and into the weeks and months ahead? What if God is already working on our behalf, and in our interests by being ahead of our circumstance, in the future, and sorting things out so that by the time we get there, things will be the way that are best for us? Made that way by a loving Father? Wow, what an amazing God we have. Going ‘Back to the Future’ is for movies. We have a God who is already IN our future. That just blows my mind. Thanks, Karen for the timely reminder. Boy, am I blessed? Yes, twice over. God is good!