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From the Pastor’s Desk
Bishop Randy Barnett, Oklahoma
A NEW START FOR A NEW
CREATURE
By Bishop Randy Barnett
Recently I was ministering in one
of our prison churches when the thought came to me that these precious souls
live in an environment that constantly reminds them of their past. The clothes
they wear identify them as inmates which speaks of a scarred past. The bars and
razor wire are constant reminders they are not free to come and go as they
please because of their past. For many of them their lives are lived solo
because friends and family have rejected them. Why? The rejection happens
because they have committed crimes in the past. Everywhere they look are the
reminders of their past. Actually this may not be so much different than most
of us outside of the prison walls. Our past tends to follow us to some degree
or another and things remind of us past failures and mistakes.
Driving home that evening after the worship service the evil one try to
tempt me to re-visit my own past, a past that is clouded with errors, mistakes,
misjudgments, transgressions of almost every description, and outright sins.
The truth then cascaded over me and it buoyed me up above the temptation to
consider my past. You see, the truth is I have no past. I myself know what I
have done in my life and what my memory records, and some others know of some
of things I have done. But there is One who has told me the truth about my past
life, and the truth is this: Every infraction and every sin that I ever
committed has been washed from my records! I am forgiven. My slate is clean!
What does your past look like? Are you like me and like all those men in
that prison chapel whose pasts are a roadway with bumps and potholes and junk
scattered over it? The Bible tells us that “all
have sinned,” so that means you have some things in your past that you are
not too proud of either. The good news is that if you know Jesus as Lord and
Savior, which has ushered you into the realm of God’s grace, you stand before
Him right now spotless, along with me and those inmates who have been born
again. Isn’t that a wonderful feeling?
The psalmist tells us that the forgiveness of God is so complete that He
literally separates us from our sins “as
far as the east is from the west.” That is a long, long way! Can you see
that those feelings of regret and condemnation over your past mistakes that
have plagued you for years are unfounded? The guilt associated with each of
your sins was nailed to an old rugged cross on a hill called Calvary 2000
years. All your guilt was taken from you and placed upon the sacrificial Lamb –
His name is Jesus – and when He was crucified, all your guilt died with Him. He
was offered up by God as your substitute and He was condemned for the sins of
you, and me, and every other person who has ever lived or ever shall live. This
shows the great love God has for you!
Please understand that you have an enemy [his name is Satan] who is
determined to destroy you and one of his weapons is to remind you of your past,
just as he tries to do with me. Keep in mind that he is masterful at deception
and lies which is why it is very important for you to know beyond any doubt and
in full faith who you are [your are the redeemed] and what God has done for
you. [you are forgiven and stand in righteousness before God] Being established
in these truths will go far in preparing you for victory whenever thoughts of
your past try to re-emerge. Learn to practice the admonition found in II
Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing
every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Paul the apostle wrote to the Corinthian church (and to you) on this
subject and he tells you that you are a “new
creature.” (II Corinthians 5:17-211) You got a new start the instant you
gave your heart to Jesus and was born again. He removed all the guilt of your
past and set you on a wonderful course of life that is fulfilling and rewarding
and joy-filled. Expect to experience the blessings of God in your life day by
day, and, never, ever look back. Amen.
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