Learning to Let Go Of The Past

⁵ We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; Numbers 11:5

Last week, we learned how regrets hinder our spiritual growth. This week once again, I like to pick up where we left off and address a couple of other things we need to “LET GO” to live a victorious Christian life. Our past can have a devastating effect on our present and future if you don’t deal with it. Today, I want to talk to you about two more things we should not look to once we start walking with Christ. Satan will use our past to trip us up in our walk with Christ. And, thus, it is crucial to be aware of his traps.

We tend only to remember the good things from the past and forget many of the difficulties and struggles. No matter what stage of life you are in, each generation believes that things were better in the past. In reality, it can not be further from the truth. Somehow, further, we move away from an event, better it gets. I grew up in a third world country with minimum comforts of life. Yet, when we reminisce about our childhood, you would think we lived in a paradise. We almost have forgotten the sorrows and heartache of the day to day life. Nostalgia can give a false picture of the past.

We are not immune from this once we come to know Christ. We long for how things used to be and doing so we are expressing our unhappiness about the present. Israelite were slaves for generations. They were doing hard labor and lived in deplorable circumstances, yet now a year after their freedom, they wish they were back in the pit. They started bickering about the food & lack of meat. Do you find your self acting similarly? We, too, have been freed from the bondage of sin. Like Israelite, we also are on a journey to the promised land, and as we learn to walk in faith with God, do you sometimes complain? Look back at old friends/family, and wish you can go back to a former life. When it was so easy to walk in the bar, gossip, living in worldly ways? When lying came so quickly? When sin, did not bother you? So many times, it seems like those who are in the world have such a better life. They seem to have all the fun,get all the breaks and we long for that so today let me remind you to focus on what you do have in your walk with Christ, peace, joy, love, like Israelite all your needs provided and most importantly eternal life Israelite forgot the hard gruesome labor, daily lashes on their back, Egyptians ruling over them and now are dreaming about onions, leeks, cucumbers & melons. Are you longing for Melons, cucumbers & onions of a past life? Be careful that you are not like Israelite complaining and bickering against God instead be grateful for heavenly manna. The Christian walk is a difficult one, and if your focus is on the past, how are you ever going to enter the promised land.No doubt, Israelite had more option in Egypt for food but lack of options in wilderness was temporary. In like manner, our suffering is for a time. Our reward is not earthly but heavenly. Let the example of Lot’s wife serve as a reminder to not look at the past longingly. It will make you salty and turn you into a pillar, and pillars don’t move forward.

The second thing you must learn to let go is past conflict. Cows have an unusual eating habit, they swallow the grass, and later on un-swallow it, which is commonly called the “chewing the cud.” Many of us are like cows; we like to bring up old hurts and conflict and sit and chew on it. And all it does is create bitterness. It opens up old wounds and hurts returns again. As Christians, we are to forgive those who hurt us regardless of if they ask for forgiveness or not. Many times, the person who insulted you, or hurt you does not even remember it, and you get trapped into the bitterness for days months and years just poisoning your heart. All of us have been offended. Now, you have a choice to let it go and live life, or you can let it fester, and roots of bitterness will grow and consume you. The Bible tells us to reject bitterness. Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” And James 3:13-18 warns that words spoken in bitterness have nothing to do with wisdom but are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

My fellow Christians, do you see the devastating effect of looking back at past sinful life with longing and Past conflict, which makes your heart bitter? Both will harden your heart. You must let go of both to soar in your spiritual life. You can not serve Christ if you are going to focus on your past. Luke 9: 62 says “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” I will close with this.

Vance Havner once said, “The present is never as good as it used to be.” But the truth is that a great future beats a great past every time.

And Paul teaches us, Brothers and sisters, 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. 

Let go of the past. Look ahead. The prize is Life with Christ. Amen