Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”‬‬

Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV

The sermon on Sunday was about what lay ahead for the believer. Pastor spoke about the second coming and pointed out that God didn’t say he would make all new things but would make all things new.

I had already been thinking about the current culture and the saying, “Don’t let your past define you.” And the concept that God is working his plan in our lives. Using everything that makes us who we are. I know I’m not the only who could use more clarity on the subject of the new self and the old self, and what connection they have to the plan God has for our lives.

Twelve years ago there was a song by Jason Gray called Nothing is Wasted—you can listen here—that really resonated with me. The idea that God can redeem all my broken parts and all my mis-steps and use it for his glory felt empowering. But do I hold onto the idea that I went through all those things as part of God’s plan, to make me who I am? Do I allow my past to shine as a story of redemption, or do I not dare to look back? I have a few verses to look at.

He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.‬‬

Tehillim (Psa)‬ ‭103‬:‭12‬ ‭CJB

And here—

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”‬‬

Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT

If you take the story of Lot and the city of Sodom as a lesson about leaving our old self behind we can see God’s desire for us not to look back.

And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”

But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.‬‬

Genesis‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬, ‭26‬ ‭ESV

We can see another two perspectives from Paul.

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.‬‬

Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭MSG

I love the way the Message translation paints the picture of a light-filled world and our grace-sovereign country. We aren’t meant to continue in the way we once were.

Here Paul says basically the same thing—

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not saying that we can’t share our testimony, but I am saying to let the past be in the past and see yourself as someone that has been made new.

I have two more scriptures I’d like you to soak up.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.‬‬

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT

And what kind of love is God’s love?

Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8a‬ ‭AMP‬‬

As I think it through I want to discover this new person God has created. Whatever lies in the past, that’s not me anymore. But also, God didn’t throw me away and start from scratch. That is the meaning of the message that God is making all things new.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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