It is safe to assume that we all share a common experience. At some point in our lives, we have suffered emotional or physical pain inflicted by another person. When this pain is intentional, it can be hard to get over. In these situations, it is often difficult to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us.
As tough as this can be, it seems that there is one person that is the hardest to forgive for a past offence. This person is ourself. Guilt over past sins or mistakes is a favorite weapon of Satan. As we strive to be men pursuing a vital relationship with God, the Evil one loves to remind us of failures in the past and cause us to question our worthiness to serve a holy God.
I was discussing Scripture with a group of spiritual leaders a few weeks ago, and this discussion came up. If you knew these men and the positions they hold in spiritual leadership, you may assume they have it all together; that they never struggle with such thoughts. However, one man made this statement, “I would not want my entire life displayed on a screen for all to see. There are parts of it I would not be proud of.” This comment was met with nods of agreement from several in the room.
I want to be clear. These are not necessarily unconfessed or hidden sins. When we come into relationship with Jesus by faith, our sin is buried in the deepest sea, removed as far as the east is from the west. We find this promise of God in Hebrews 8:12, For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Since our forgiveness is so complete, why is Satan so committed to reminding us of our past failures? Because he understands that focusing on the problems of our past keeps us from aggressively moving forward with Christ. A backward focus causes fear and uncertainty in our ability to be the man of God we are challenged to be. The Evil one causes us to doubt the depth of our commitment to our Lord.
The Apostle Paul had a past far more despicable than most of us would ever be able to identify with. He was so apposed to Jesus and his message that in his younger days, he condoned the murder of Christ followers. Later, he joined in the destruction of people who followed Jesus as Savior. Then God got his attention with the truth of the Gospel and Paul had a miraculous transformation through faith in Jesus. However, his past seemed to haunt him at times. Even though he was redeemed, he writes to his young friend in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
But he didn’t leave the discussion there. He also gives us the solution for moving beyond our past. He says in Philippians 3:13-14, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Keeping our focus on who Jesus is and what he has asked of us does not leave time to negatively reflect on the past. When those doubts come, we must aggressively pursue something new from our Lord. Act on a practical truth he has already shown you like caring for the needs of another person. Or seek new truth from his Word and act on that. The key is to let the past be the past by being more concerned about God’s desire for the future.