August 23 2026

Memories of Your Old Life

One of the roughest things people share with me is how they must fight the memories of the life they left behind when they chose to follow Jesus.  It is a reality and most people go through that phase at least once.  When we get Saved, we are told God throws every memory of our old sin-filled life into the Sea of Forgetfulness.  That sounds wonderful at the time and most of us relish the fresh breeze that blows in with God’s Grace.    

So, what happens?  A few things.  One possibility is we start feeling a bit judgmental after a few years. Sometimes we meet people who have a past much like our own and we wonder how they could have lived that way, completely forgetting we did those things ourselves.   The reason Christians get labeled as hypocritical is there is a bit of amnesia when it comes to our pasts.  It isn’t intentional.  God changes us.  We just need to remember that through His Grace we were washed white as snow and forgiven. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we’re perfect.  Not even close.  Our best use of our past lives is when we allow ourselves to be honest and vulnerable.  I will always choose to be honest if I think it helps someone else break free. 

Witnessing is a great lesson in accountability. Yes, we might have made dangerous choices in the past.  Most young people encounter a few slippery paths, especially when they go off to college. Whether it is drugs, an addictive habit, a person or actual danger, we know what we’re doing when we make bad choices. It is that season of rebellion and invincibility and many do not walk through it unscathed.  Eventually, the God given desire to do better calls us to repentance and change.

Denial about our sins, past and present, can keep us from repentance. God forgives. He wants to forgive.  He will not allow us to sweep guilt or regret under our conscious thinking where it only festers, never healing. The Word says to make sure your sins will be found out. Better to be healed and forgiven than proud and unredeemed. God has forgiven us.  Let’s make certain we forgive ourselves.

Dear God, Thank You for Salvation, forgiveness, and an opportunity to spend eternity with You.  Help me be an honest witness to all who seek You.  If I am Saved by Grace they can be Saved by Grace.  If You cared enough to call me out, to court m, to invite me into Your faily, You assuredly care about others just as much.  May I never forget how much You forgave.  May I always remember You loved me enough to chase me down.  Thank You.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  Colossians 1:13