Mantras of the 90's #5
By Warren Berkley
One of the hot topics on talk shows, among movie stars and in magazines is THE CURRENT
EFFECTS OF PAST ABUSE. As claims are made about dysfunctional families, codependency and
all kinds of new psychological disorders, we often hear folks say:
"My Problem Is My Past!"
A number of people in our society are convinced that their present attitudes, behavior
problems and habits have their origin in their past. Often there is the implication that
one is a victim of some past relationship, or that they have been programmed a certain way
by their parents or family.
In responding to this, we cannot simply dismiss the influence of the past. The Bible
teaches us, our past does have impact in our present and future. There are real cases in
the Bible where children were hurt by poor parenting, or people suffered because of their
own past actions. Without any doubt, things can happen to us (either at the hands of
others, or our own foolishness), and these things have consequences.
Let us not ignore, there may be things in our past that can really help us! Past
success can give us confidence and courage for the days ahead. Past education and the
Bible knowledge we have gained can be positive forces in us today. As we remember what
we've done in the past, repentance can result (Rev. 2:5), and our past can help keep us
humble (Deut. 9:7). The Bible admits the influence of the past, but there are positive
things as well as negative.
What is needed is, an evaluation of the past accompanied by the desire to profit from the good, deal with the bad, and repent of any sin we've committed! I need to realize, regardless of what has happened to me in the past, I can be forgiven by Christ and I can be what I ought to be through Him (Phil. 4:13). I can study and pray and use God's Word to overcome past disadvantages. I can repent of my own sin, and be more watchful and careful in the future. By the grace of God I can rejoice that I am not locke
d into doom because of my past! We can turn adversity into advantage; we can deal with
real problems in the past; we can cope and be responsible today, through the power of the
gospel of Christ.
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus." (Philip 3:13,14, NKJV).
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such
hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your
souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Heb. 12:1-4,
NKJV).
Contact the writer:
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