|
Some memories are soon lost
and some linger. One of my favorite lingering
ones is listening to a father-son guitar and vocal
duet titled “The Land of Beginning Again.” Poor
decisions had divided these two singers but they
had decided to let their past be past and start
over again. Their song, though an old one, was
new to me and its heart-warming message of harmony
being restored in their family has been
unforgettable.
Some quotes have endured
through generations even though the names of those
who originated them have been forgotten. Here’s
an old one that deserves repeating: “The Christian
life is made up of many beginnings.”
Does this mean there is no
crucial moment when faith is born?
Not at all!
When a respected religious
leader came to our Lord to ask how to receive
eternal life, he was told he needed to born again;
to experience a spiritual birth. (John 3)
We celebrate birthdays
because they remind us of a crucial moment in time
when one was born. And the birth of faith
deserves recognition.
What then did the one who
spoke of “many beginnings” mean?
This unnamed one referred to
the many times we make sincere commitments and
promises to the Lord on which, for any number of
reasons, we don’t carry through.
What shall we do about past
promises on which we’ve not delivered?
Shall we forget about them?
Discard them? Spend our lives feeling depressed
over not keeping our commitments? Consider
ourselves failures and determine never to make
another promise to God? Lose heart over the
future because of poor past performances?
Absolutely not!
Why not, instead, make a new
beginning?
When I checked my voice mail
late last night there was a request for a return
call from a man I haven’t seen or heard from in
many years.
Soon, we were talking about
his past struggles and present needs, one of which
was his need to make a new beginning.
Is this possible?
What about all those broken
past promises?
How can we be sure of full
forgiveness?
In my book “Lord, I’m
Afraid,” providing poetic help and a Biblical
promise to overcome fears, I’ve offered the verse
below for those who fear they can’t be forgiven:
Lord, I’m afraid
You’re tired of me.
I’m back again
Confessing the same sin.
I meant well, but fell.
Can You forgive me again?
And again?
“If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9).
No matter their past
failures, forgiven ones can start over...again. |
