Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
Sights in the Rearview Mirror
Illustration:
There was once a man who had managed to retire from his job much earlier than usual. Most of his friends were concerned that he would not enjoy his life of freedom for very long but would soon get bored because they did not understand what he would be doing to occupy his time.
When he was asked, “What was it like when you drove away from your jobsite for the last time?” His answer was, “Well, as I drove away I looked into my rear view mirror knowing that this was the last time that I would have to see my old job. As I thought of all of the time that I had spent there, being limited by the whims of other people and many of the unpleasant things that had happened over the years. Then I began to think of the good things like talking with co-workers, vacations, holidays and the benefits I had left behind and I really began to have mixed emotions.
“And what were your feelings”, the friends asked. “Joy and Happiness”, he replied.
Philippians 3:13, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"
The Apostle Paul makes a powerful statement in this verse that every Christian must understand and strive to master.
Too many times I have heard and seen people who were still bound by past experiences and past sins that they just could never get over. The unwillingness to forget the past and to refuse to leave old wounds alone often results in a Christian falling back and not ever reaching the greatness that God desires for their life.
In every church, and indeed, in every life, there is pain and hurt from the past. Christians who have been mistreated, disillusioned, or deceived by a preacher or other brothers and sisters in the church are numerous and reaching them with the healing mercies of God is not an easy task because they don’t trust anyone.
Likewise, there are those who may have committed some terrible sin in their past who just can’t seem to believe that God has really forgiven them and Satan loves to jump up on their shoulder and bring up every sordid detail.
Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Hebrews 10:17, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
God has made some awesome promises to those who will put their trust in Him, keep their face set toward Jesus and walk on in faith. We must learn to do as Paul said and press on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus and set our eyes on that which lies ahead and not that which is behind and forgotten.
Which of us can change one thing that has already happened? Once the deed is done it can’t be undone and a word spoken is not retrievable. But God has the power to wipe it all away if we can only believe and trust what He says.
As Israel was nearing the end of their captivity in Egypt, God spoke to them some great promises. I believe these same promises are for us today.
Exodus 6:6-8
6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
It’s as though God was saying, get in your car, you are leaving this place. I am setting you free, I have paid the price for your freedom with my own hand performing miracles on your behalf. I want you to be with me so that I can be your God and you can learn to love and trust me. I have a far better place for you, a greater work for you to accomplish, and an inheritance that no man can take away. I have said it, I have told you, now its up to you to follow me.
Jesus Christ bought your freedom from your past at Calvary and now its time to move on.
Looking back in your rear view mirror of your past life what can you see that isn’t coming with you?
Every rebellious, evil deed is staying at the cross.
The old foul-mouthed language isn’t coming with you. The old party life habit is forever broken. You name the sin and it is not coming with you.
Abuse from anyone in your past is wiped away and all things are become new. If you felt dirty or unworthy, God has made you worthy and clean. His blood washes every stain of sin from your life.
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Colossians 1:13-14, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
God promised Israel that he would bring them out from under the bondage of sin and that’s just what he has done for us. Sin has no hold and no claim on us any longer, I don’t care what the Devil says or what any man, including myself, thinks. God’s Word is either true or its not. I am forgiven; I am clean; and I am a new creation because the Great I AM has said so and that’s all that matters.
Every bad word I have ever said, every bad thought that I dwelt on for too long, every sin I have ever committed has disappeared in my rear view mirror.
The Guilt that I once felt is behind me in that mirror!
The Loneliness and Fear are disappearing, getting farther away as I travel onward! The hatred and revenge that I once had for those who hurt me are disappearing in my rear view mirror!
Jesus faced a great judgment, took upon Himself the pain of my past, the mistakes of my past and the sentence of death that was upon me. He took it all at the Cross of Calvary, paid my debt and now I am free through His precious blood.
I know that one day soon, great judgments will fall upon the earth, upon Satan and upon every demon of Hell and they will be eternally banished as Jesus comes back to reclaim what they have stolen by deception. But there is more to it than that. For the Christian, who is born again, washed in the Blood of the Lamb there is no waiting for the sweet bye and bye for sin to be banished because it is banished from you right now.
Are There People in Your Life that You Can’t Seem to Forgive, even those who you think aren’t deserving of your forgiveness?
Luke 6:36-37, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"
Jesus came to you and I when we were totally undeserving of His mercy, grace and forgiveness. We must to the same for others.
Mercy was free and grace was freely given so give it freely in return and experience the blessing of release from the burdens of the past.
Either trust God, forgive and have mercy, or you will never see God’s best for your life. How can God forgive anyone who does not forgive others.
It would pay us to remember the parable of the debtor found in Matthew 18:24-35 where the king forgave the debtor who owed 10000 talents and who could never hope to repay such a large debt but faced the loss of everything dear to him since both his family possessions were to be sold. This man cried and begged for mercy and found grace in the eyes of the king. But then he went out and cast into prison a brother who owed him a very small debt and could not pay.
The king then threw the first servant into prison for lacking compassion for his fellow man and I don’t think that man ever saw the light of day again.
If we want to experience God’s best, and, if we want to enter into the promises of God and enjoy the inheritance that He has promised, we must forget the past, move on and forgive others for their crimes against us.
Swallow pride, eat crow and get it covered under the Blood of the Lamb.
It’s Time to Break your Rear View Mirror and do it Quickly!
There is a story in the Old Testament about someone who refused to break that mirror but continued to stare at what was disappearing behind her. In the New Testament, Luke 17:32, The Bible created a negative memorial to her with only three short words that rings in the ear of every Christian that ever looks back or who fails to forget the past.
REMEMBER LOTS WIFE!
Genesis 19:17, "And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."
Genesis 19:26, "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."
Now that you have taken a look at your past and seen what is disappearing in your rear view mirror, you too can leave those experiences behind with the mixed emotions of Joy and Happiness.
Forget the Past – look straight ahead – there’s a whole new life ahead and today is the first day of the rest of your Eternal Life in Christ!
Break your rear view mirror and quit living in past mistakes and hurts. Put your trust in Jesus and the cleansing power of His blood.
Look to the Cross of Calvary and to the great salvation that Jesus provided on that cruel tree and not at the sins and mistakes that died with Him.
Jesus was Resurrected from dead and is alive forever more but your sin died at Calvary and shall never be resurrected.
You are free from the power of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Jesus broke the desire of sin and the power of death in your life.
Now quit looking in your rear view mirror to see if it is still there!
Remember Jesus’ words in Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
Jesus has broken His rear view mirror now why don’t you?
