I hear people talk a lot about the past. For some, it is all about revisionist history. The past becomes some glorious time when everything was wonderful and they were the hero of the universe. It does not matter that it did not happen that way. But perhaps changing their memories is the only way they can deal with the true reality of their past. For others, they are consumed with the pain of their past. Things they did that they wish they had not. Things they did not do that they wish they had. Hurt feelings, lost relationships, opportunities squandered. What they would give to be able to go back and fix it all.

Then there are those who talk primarily about the future. For some, they just want the future to be as good as they wish the past had been. They long for a better tomorrow. If only the world could be just the way they want it to be going forward. For others, the future is a terrible place where all of their worst nightmares will come true. They worry about their health, or their finances, or their relationships.

But I would like to share a different perspective. One that those who believe in Jesus strive to live by each and every day.

The past is the past and I cannot do anything about it. I cannot undo the things I wish I had not done. Nor can I go back in time and do the things I wish I had. The past is gone. I can do nothing about my past. But God can. He forgives my past. He does not allow me to be chained to the person I used to be. He loves me in spite of my past. He makes me into a new person.

I cannot control the future. I can choose to be consumed with worry over what will happen in the future, but the truth is that I do not even know how long I will live. Sickness, accidents, disasters claim lives every day. But I can rest secure in the fact that God controls the future. He will take care of me, provide for my needs, and see that I will live with him forever.

Yesterday God is, today God is, and tomorrow God is.
That just leaves me to decide how I will live today. No need to dwell on the past or worry about the future. Just live today as a follower of Jesus. You too can be free from the guilt of the past or the worry about the future. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org or join the blog discussion at www.hopeforlife.org.

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