Shadows Of The Past

So many times, we have heard the expression, "Let go and let God". Let your problems go and let God deal with them. Let go of your worries and let God take care of that. Let go of your past and let God give you a future. All of that is as true as the Holy Scriptures themselves. And yet somehow, we have forgotten that age old, time tested, proven philosophy. You would be astonished at how many people, not only in the world, but in the church as well, are still harboring feelings of hurt and betrayal. You would be amazed at how many people specifically in the church today still hold grudges and resentment at someone who hurt or betrayed them. 

How many people do you know in the church who still cringe at the mention of a person's name when they hear it? How many people do you know in general who still grow stone faced when they see someone who did them wrong or hear their name in conversation? And yet, they say they forgive that person? I rather doubt that. True forgiveness is being able to see someone who hurt you, hear their name, and it has absolutely no effect on you. True forgiveness is being able to let go of the past and move on without harboring the pain, the heartache, or the resentment towards someone who did you so horribly. When you can do that, you will know you have truly forgiven that person and that God has truly forgiven you. 

Jesus said it best in Matthew 6:14-15 when He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses (that would be sins), your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Will you pray with me? "Heavenly Father, we come here today to honor You with the reading and teaching of Your Holy Word. Father God, in the matchless Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we ask you to bless this time of fellowship and learning the Word of the Living God with grace and power. Let every person reading this transcript today hear the very voice of the Lord their God. Let the power of the Holy Spirit touch them in a new way and bring peace to those who are troubled by the shadows of their past. Help them to forgive, repent and release their past into the hands of God today. In Jesus Holy Name we pray and ask it in faith believing and expecting." If you accept and receive that, give God praise for hearing our prayer today.

At first, I was going to title this sermon, "Let Go And Let God". But as I was writing the previous paragraphs, I felt the touch of the Lord inspiring me to name this message, "Shadows of the Past". Why? Because THAT is the very root of this word today. When you live in the shadows of the past, you become a victim of what awaits you in the future. You say, "How is that possible?" Easy. When you allow your past to control you and make you fear repeating history, you become leery of anyone who tries to get close to you or even sticks out a glad hand.

Without even realizing it, you have built walls around yourself keeping you from being hurt like that again. Walls keep people out of your life, that's true. But be careful who you shut out. Walls are never built for just anyone specifically. Once walls go up, its purpose is to keep EVERYONE out! You could very well be keeping the very people God has sent to you to comfort you OUT of your life. And in so doing, you are keeping God Himself out of your life! That's no way to live.

I had a person tell me one time, "I can't let go of the past! It has made me what I am today!" Wrong! The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." David said in Psalm 139:14, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Let me tell you something, if that goes for David, it certainly goes for you, too! YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made! YOU are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation! YOU are the apple of God's eye, the Bible says in Psalms 17:8. God PROMISED YOU in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you;