I have a somewhat obsessive behavior when it comes to writing down anything lengthy on paper. I hate making a mistake. Fighting the compulsion to rewrite every word (rather than scratching out a few errors), I endure the look of a messy page.
Lately, I’ve been wrestling with the desire to “erase” some difficult issues in the circumstances around me. After all, it seems so much easier to leave behind the things I can’t change, rather than having to stick around and wade through them.
Some of us run in life—but not in the race of which Paul speaks. Instead of moving toward the goal of deeper intimacy with Christ, we spend our time avoiding the real issues in life or running from the difficult places of hurt. We develop quick feet and thick defenses; and rather than working through a “revision” of the situations around us, we keep tearing off the page and trying to start over.
In this world, we will face places where we desire a “do-over”—either because of our choices or the decisions of others. Avoidance and revision, however, are two entirely different responses. One leaves the stings and nettles intact, but buried beneath the surface. The other requires that we acknowledge and surrender the difficulties of life in exchange for the grace offered at the cross.
The past will continually attempt to speak into our present and future. But the past should be given voice only in the remembrances of God’s restoration and healing, for He indeed makes “everything new” (Revelation 21:3-5).
Paul couldn’t undo the prior decisions of his life (Philippians 3:7), nor could he change the opinions of those around him (Acts 26:28). He had but one choice—stay focused on the prize (Philippians 3:13-14). For him, the work of the cross triumphed over any previous accomplishment or failure (Philippians 3:3).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:20-36
More:
Read Isaiah 43:19 and 55:8-13 to see ways in which God brings about new things in our lives.
Next:
What current life circumstances are you trying to run from? How does running remove God’s hand from working in your situation? How will letting go of the past change your life?
manoharan on August 30, 2012 at 2:56 am
Thanks for the thought. In my present situation where we are struggling on the past event the verse from Isaiah 58 is very consoling “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways”
regina franklin on August 30, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Dear Manoharan,
Praying for you. May the God of peace reveal His heart toward you even in the midst of circumstances that are difficult to understand. May you know how very much He loves you and that whatever you have walked through in the past is not the picture of your value to Him.
daisymarygoldr on August 30, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Good post, Regina on “revision” rather than “tearing off the page and trying to start over”! This reminds me of the lab records my professor had us maintain. We were required to enter all experimental work directly into the notebook. No erasers or overwriting was allowed; errors had to be crossed out with a single line and not scratched all over. To prevent us from tearing off sheets the pages were numbered. Emphasis was on legibility and not on making it look nice and flawless. When a report is revised, messed up areas can be rectified in order to produce results that meet the expected goal. In our lives, it takes revision of the past, to progress in the present and press on towards perfection in Christ—in the future.
regina franklin on August 30, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Dear Daisymarygoldr,
What a great example! It brought back memories of a brief stint teaching in a medical setting where we had to keep entries on each patient. Having to cross out with a single line and not being able to remove pages kept us accountable and unable to hide our mistakes. It’s hard for us to allow God to revise our lives when we too busy trying to hide our failings.
mike wittmer on August 31, 2012 at 11:46 am
I have learned from this word about revision, Regina. I think what I like is that revision requires us to admit our guilt, which we can then replace with the righteousness of Christ. So we don’t get a free pass for our sin, but neither are we captured by it.
regina franklin on September 2, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Good point, Mike! In order to be changed, we have to be willing to acknowledge what in us needs changing. I have some attitudes right now that I am asking God to change in me, and the first step is seeing the true ugliness of my own sin.
nanettejan on September 2, 2012 at 7:56 am
I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior but sometimes I still commit a sin. I always try to avoid it but could you tell me if God is still there for me even if I commit sins sometimes? Please pray for me.
regina franklin on September 2, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Dear Nanettejan,
I think all believers can say that we struggle with sin. One of my favorite verses is Micah 7:8-9. Proverbs 24:16 reiterates this same idea. I think the place where we have to be careful is that we not get to a place where we take God’s grace for granted. Jesus was clear when He stated that those who love Him keep His commandments (John 14:15). Our lack of willingness to obey ultimately comes down to a love problem. God does not desire to own us, but He is serious when He calls us to faithfulness. When we fall, our heart should be turned to repentance, which means a surrender of our will for His. Thankfully, we can cry out to Him in our failings and to overcome our failings (1Thess 5:23-24).
winn collier on September 2, 2012 at 1:41 pm
this connects with a portion from our prayer of confession today:
…Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
regina franklin on September 2, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Yes! I love the words of Psalms 119:32 in the NIV: I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. (Psalm 119:32 NIV84)
nanettejan on September 6, 2012 at 3:16 am
Thank you for telling me these things.