Another thoughtful message from Reverend Mark A. Adams, Senior pastor of Redland Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland:
Let’s say you land a spot on one of my favorite game shows, Jeopardy. The category is “Famous Quoters.” You choose the $100 square which says, “Give me liberty or give me death!” What question goes with that answer? If you were to say, “Who is Patrick Henry?” — you would be correct!
But what if you picked the $500 square and it said, “I know of no way of judging the future but by the past?” What question would go with that one? Which famous quoter said that? Believe it or not—your first response would still be correct. Patrick Henry uttered these words as well. Most of us would agree with this famous patriot’s perspective. His lesser known quote has a ring of good common sense.
However, we must take care. Henry’s axiom might be true when applied to politics or history or investment strategies, but it provides a poor foundation indeed when it comes to developing Godly relationships, since it doesn’t reflect the way our Heavenly Father relates to us. The Bible proclaims the glorious news that God’s blessings aren’t predicated on our past. Do you remember what another “famous quoter,” the prophet, Jeremiah, said? “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
God doesn’t judge the potential of our today or our tomorrow by our yesterday. He didn’t do it with David or Moses, or Peter or Paul, or countless other Bible characters, and He doesn’t do it with you or me. Psalm 103:10-12 says, “God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities—for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
As Christians, a great way to start every day is by thanking God for His compassionate mercies and the clean slate that comes with them. We must remember that every morning we can ask for and receive God’s forgiveness—and His power to start again—as we join Him in His work, all the time striving to become more and more like His Son.
This principle is also a good way to start the day with others. Conscious of our own dependence on God’s grace, we should believe in the potential of spouses, children, and friends; knowing that, thanks to Jesus—we mustn’t judge anyone’s future by their past.
© 2015 Mark Adams
