Think back five, ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago; if you
are old enough. Does your life today look
the way you hoped it would? When I was a
child I thought like a child so I believed I would become superman someday. Obviously that was not realistic. When I was a teenager, I believed I would
become a successful business man with a beautiful wife, two children, a huge
house with a white picket fence and never have any troubles or trials. As a young adult, I believed I would become a
prominent person is society and change the world.
I had some notable beliefs about my future and all were
positive. Not once did I have an
ambition to become a drunk, an addict, an abuser, or even indigent. However, many of the choices I made in life
early on only opened the opportunity to become what I least desired; a
failure. I had never hoped to be a
failure. Honestly, I have never met
anyone else whose life ambition was to become a failure either.
I can’t help but realize how many people make choices to do
stupid things just to experience life.
In those experiences like premarital sex, exposure to pornography, drugs,
alcohol, risky behaviors, expressions of pride, and rebellious behavior they
are only setting themselves up for the life they least desire. So few are behaving in ways today to prepare
themselves for what the truly hope for in tomorrow.
To me it is insane to believe that you can live a life in
complete opposition to the life you hope for in the future and still hope for a
better tomorrow. It simply does not work that way my
friends. Time and time again I have had
the opportunity to care for those who have hit rock bottom in life, a life they
themselves would define as a complete failure.
Everyone I have asked this simple question; “Is this the life you once
hoped for?” Never once have any of them
said yes. Then I ask this; “Knowing what
you know now, what would you have done differently?” The answer has always been “I never would have
done the stupid things I have done that got me here”.
Your past defines your present; however it does not have to
define your future. There is a life full
of blessings that can be found in Jesus Christ.
May I encourage you to set your past mistakes, sins and failures at the
foot of the cross and accept the forgiveness, redemption and sanctification
that only Jesus Christ can offer.
Romans 13:8-14 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the
continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has
fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments, "Do not commit
adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do
not covet,"
and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up
in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love
is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The
hour has come for you to wake up from your
slumber, because our salvation is nearer
now than when we first believed. 12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us
put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor
of light. 13 Let us behave
decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
14 Rather,
Clothe yourselves in The Lord Jesus
Christ, and do not think about how to
gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
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