“I HAVE HORRIBLE THINGS IN MY PAST THAT WILL CATCH UP WITH ME”
A young man walked up to my friend once after he had given his life to Christ and said to him: “I did quite some terrible things in my life. The one I cannot forget is about a lady who laid curses on me after the way and manner I treated her. She said I would not prosper or make a headway in life. I know that curse will still catch up with me”.
My friend opened up the Bible and showed him these words:
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself].
Romans 8:33 AMP
No one can bring a charge against you! You are not just forgiven; you are justified. Justification is more like “It never happened.” It was never in your record. You are given a new beginning.
If you are in Christ, you even have more than a new beginning; you are a new creation in Christ. This is how Apostle Paul, who also had a messed up past, puts it:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
If there is no charge against you, then it makes sense that you cannot be condemned. You have to be charged before you can be condemned.
Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us.
Romans 8:34 AMP
Listen! The day I realized this, I stopped romancing nonsense. It was the victory I needed over the shame, guilt and condemnation my life as a sinner placed on me.
The reason you have not surrendered your life to Christ is because you do not know how powerful grace is. If you have been touched by grace, you will know there is no other touch that is better.
If grace puts a song in your mouth, you will sing and dance till eternity comes:
Have you ever wondered why the Samaritan woman could not keep quiet in the same city where her history as a bed-warmer for different men was known? Grace restores your lost dignity and gives you a loud voice.
Have you ever wondered why the Decapolis felt the impact of Jesus Christ through the life of the former well-known madman of the Gadarenes? Grace restores your dignity and gives you a compelling voice. Those who know him bound and witnessed his nakedness could not but say that grace has made a difference.
I know you had a horrible past, but with the embrace of God’s grace, you have a new story. You have a new song also:
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken; I am forgiven
The king of kings calls me His own
Beautiful savior, I’m yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Do you get it? Rejoice! Let the tears of joy flow.
© temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa