Your Past

Text: Isa 1:18, 2 Cor 5:17, Phil 3:13

Past can simply be the period of time that has elapsed. Your past means things you have done, events that have elapsed, things of old.

2 Cor 5:17 says "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old has gone, the new has come". You can only use the past to improve on the future, so that you do not repeat the same mistake of the past. And if the past was good and honourable, you should move forward.

Phil 3:13 says "But one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead". Forgetting is moving out of the past and straining ahead is thinking of the future.

Isa 1:18, God says 'Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool". God wants to forgive you and blot your sins. No matter how long you have remained in the state, take a step of repentance and return to the Lord. He will forgive and restore you.

To continue bemoaning your past after you have confessed and repented is self abuse. The devil will keep reminding you of the past because he does not want you saved. Do not allow the devil to rob you of your joy and even salvation. Isa 43:25 says, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more".

It is not when and how you start but what matters is how well you end. May you end well in Jesus Name. Amen. Repentance will break you away from your past and bring about new beginning.

Let us consider those who have moved forward by forgetting the past.

Daniel 4
King Nebuchadnezzar's accomplishments made him to be so proud that he took over God's glory and the people of the world thought he was too mighty. In Daniel 4:31, a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you; Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle". In v33 - 34, "Immediately he was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. I, Nebuchadnezzar raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High. I honoured and glorified Him who lives forever".

God detests the proud. You may be dishonoured for it. But you can be restored if you humble yourself and repent. Nebuchadnezzar's throne was restored and became even greater than before.

Jonah 1-4
God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach the message of salvation but he ran away from God. He was troubled and tormented for it. God allowed a fish to swallow him and he was inside the fish for three days and three nights. He cried to the Lord while inside the fish. Jonah 2:1, "In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me". In v4, "I said I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look again towards your holy temple". In v7, "When my life was ebbing away, I remember you, Lord". In v9a, "What I have vowed I will make good, salvation comes from the Lord". When Jonah repented, God sent His word to him the second time to go to Nineveh to proclaim the message He sent him. Even while inside the fish, God saved Jonah.

The Lord is so much concerned about your safety He will always give you an opportunity to repent and give another chance.

Luke 15:11-24
The prodigal son was the younger son and he arrogantly and rebelliously asked for his own inheritance, and his father gave him. He distanced himself from his father. He was vulnerable and squandered everything but came back home when he came to his senses. With all that he did, his father ran to meet him and was eager to receive him. The same way this father acted is the same way God is eager to receive and reconcile with you and restore you.

God's love is constant, patient and welcoming.

Luke 19
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He made himself rich by milking his fellow Jews. He was regarded a cheat and a sinner. He made confession and amendment through repentance. In v8, "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord; look, Lord, here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I shall pay back four times the amount". Because of this Jesus said in v9, "Today, salvation has come to this house".

Are you lost out too? Return to the Lord. Do not allow your past to hunt you or torment you. You shall be forgiven and restored, if only you can repent.

Prayer:
O Lord, I know salvation comes from you and I do not want to miss it. I confess my sins and I have come with a repentant heart to you, blot away my iniquities no matter what my past is. Cleanse me O Lord of all my iniquities, heal all my wounds and let me be a partaker of your kingdom in Jesus name I pray. AMEN

What Legacy?

Text: Gen 22:1-19, 1 Kings 21:1-29, 1 Sam 2: 12-34

Legacy is something handed down or received from an ancestor or a predecessor or a leader. Legacy can be good or bad. It is also an inheritance. Good inheritance includes a good family name, godly lifestyle, cherished memories and possessions. Bad inheritance includes a bad family name, an ungodly lifestyle, debt, liabilities and inherited diseases.

Let us consider some people in the scripture who left bad legacy: King Ahab, Prophet Eli and Gehazi.

In 1 Kings 21:1-29
King Ahab of Samaria wanted Naboth's vineyard but Naboth did not want to give it to him due to the reason that it was his inheritance. Jezebel (Ahab's wife) wrote a letter in Ahab's name that people should witness against Naboth and implicate him. Naboth was killed and Ahab took the vineyard. In return, God sent Elijah the Tishbite to Ahab, "In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs shall lick up your blood - yes, yours"; "I shall not bring this disaster in his day, but I shall bring it on his house in the days of his son". The son would thus inherit the consequences of the father's wickedness.

King Ahab and Jezebel brought evil unto their succeeding generation.

You have to watch your desires. And a wife too should seek and apply divine wisdom when there is need to advise. I pray you will not leave evil behind for your children to inherit. Amen

In 1 Sam 2: 12-34
Eli's two sons were contemptible, wicked, had no regard for the Lord, treated the Lord's offering with contempt and were sleeping with the women who served at the gate entrance to the Tent of meeting. Eli could not restrain them as a result of which Eli lost the glorious destiny meant for him and his generation. God pronounced a curse in 1 Sam 2: 31-32; "The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there shall not be an old man in your family line; and you will see distress in my dwelling".

Eli apparently brought destruction to his father's house by his permissive role in his children's evil deed.

"All your descendants will die in the prime of life; and the two sons will die same day". As parents, always employ the instrument of correction. In addition to providing children with all life necessities including western education, you need to bring them up in the way of the Lord. Failure to do so may lead to eternal condemnation and earthly destruction.

In 2 Kings 5:20-27
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha deceitfully and craftily collected the reward Elisha refused to collect from Naaman whom he healed of leprosy. Gehazi denied collecting the reward. For this, Prophet Elisha pronounced leprosy unto Gehazi and his descendants. Elisha pronounced in 2 kings 5:27, "Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants for ever. Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow". Gehazi left leprosy for his descendants. Illegitimate riches and possessions may be visited by the wrath of the Lord which may even affect the succeeding generations. Beware of these consequences.

In Gen 22:1-19
Abraham, the father of faith was about to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God's instruction when a ram was provided miraculously instead. He was ready to give all to God. Gen 22:12 says, "Now I know that you fear God. Because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son". Gen 22:16, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, v17, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies', v18, and through your offspring all the nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me". Can you see how Abraham's obedience brought blessings to his generations? No wonder God blessed Isaac, Jacob and other generations. Up till today many believers still sing "Abraham blessings are mine (2ce). I am blessed in the morning, I am blessed in the evening, Abraham blessings are mine".

Abraham left a legacy of bountiful blessings that are being appropriated by several generations.

Learn from this, obedience is better than sacrifice. Is there anything too much to give to God? Abraham was ready to give all. God blessed him more than he could ever imagine and his generations. What a legacy!

In Act 9:30-39
Dorcas made a great impact on her community by doing good, helping the poor by making robes and clothing for the widows. When she died, the room where she laid was filled with mourners especially those whom she had helped. Peter, a disciple of Jesus was sent for; he raised up Dorcas and handed her to the believers and the windows. Because of this, many believed in the Lord. They did not wish her dead because of the good legacy.

I have witnessed a situation where a head of state died and his country men jubilated. The conclusion then was that they wanted him dead. He left a bad legacy and unpleasant memories.
People are watching what you are doing and heaven is taking record as well.

Our Father in Heaven gave His all to us. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life". God sent his son to save the world. What a kind, loving and compassionate God.

Also the son Jesus died for your sake. He became poor so that you can be rich. By His stripes you were healed. He shed His blood for the atonement of your sins. He died for you and I. What a great legacy can be greater than this!

The choice is now yours. But better let it be a good legacy. A good name is better than riches and gold.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, teach me to do things that will please you and glorify your name.
Make me a source of blessings to my generation and generations to come.
By my own I can not do it, I need your grace oh Lord.
Grant me the grace to leave behind a good legacy, in Jesus name I pray. Amen