Does the past bother you? Have you made "unforgivable" mistakes. Worse than that, have you even committed crimes- even heinous ones? Is your life a wreck and there seems to be absolutely NO WAY OUT? Truthfully, no one can ever escape the consequences of the past; we just have to live with those problems. BUT, forgiveness is as BIG as God and as available as seeking forgiveness. Not a Christian- become one; already a Christian- ask God for forgiveness. Hurt others- do everything you can to make things right!!! Sounds simple, doesn't it? It is. Don't make it complicated!!! Here is a perfect example of what I am referring to...
Philippians, Chapter 3 (WEB)
4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death; 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Following Jesus is a game changer. Paul turned his life around and helped turn the world to its only Savior. Forget the past, God is bigger than anything that could possibly be there. Press on!!!
To Gary, for Gary!!!!