Over the last several months my personal world has been one of many transitions. Transition denotes change, which in turn can incite a desire to hold tightly to what we know is about to be removed from our life.
My husband and I watched a movie together last night which also involved a lot of transitions. The main character in the movie had lost his wife a couple years earlier and was currently living in a “stuck” stage. He was struggling wanting to move forward for fear of losing the memory of what his past held. In essence, he was a walking dead man, paralyzed to the point of total ineffectiveness.
This got me to thinking about life. Every day brings changes we must face whether we feel ready or not.
The only constant anchor we have is the God we serve: He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8).
My inability to comprehend the mystery of an unchanging God does not change God's nature. The truth of God’s Word is never-changing, just like Him.
There remains one thing, however, which we alone must decide: we get to choose if we will surrender our lives and trust God when change happens, or not. Can we trust the God of Yesterday to set us free from all that holds us back; His healing touch ushering us into Tomorrow with strength and wholeness, regardless our circumstances?
Yesterday or Tomorrow—choose one.
We cannot set up camp at the juncture of Yesterday and Tomorrow. His relentless pursuit of our hearts inhibits us from straddling the line between the past and the future.
Our main character eventually arrived at the same crossroad.
Either which way the winding road of Yesterday has taken us, one thing is certain—Yesterday always leads us in the opposite direction of Tomorrow. I would know, I have set up camp in Yesterday too many times to mention.
Apostle Paul had a past with many regrets. Before God reached the heart of Paul (known as Saul before his conversion) he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57-58). However, Paul didn’t wallow in the sin and regret of yesterday. He repented and was forgiven. His new heart was to know Christ. Paul went on to become a great missionary. He recognized the truth of who he was WITHOUT Christ but chose to live in the truth of who he was WITH Christ, “Not that I have already obtained all this (righteousness that comes from Christ), or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14).
Paul grabbed ahold of Tomorrow and let go of Yesterday. He recognized his inability to hold onto both and still fulfill the purposes of God for his life.
We are no different! Closing yesterday’s door will require taking ahold of that for which Christ Jesus took ahold for us. If healing, ask for healing. If forgiveness, then forgive. If using talents which have been lying dormant, brush yourself off and move forward in the direction of your God-given passions. Do THAT thing which restores joy to your heart, peace to your spirit, and produces a life fully surrendered to the God of our tomorrows.
Redemption is waiting in the sunrise of Tomorrow.
Stay the Course…
Sheila
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