Page 18 - MyFaith Mag August 2016

OPINION

WHEN it's

to

OK dwell on

the past

By Waldo Malan

Any motivational speaker, counsellor or self-help guru worth their it. Not many of you had power. Not many of you came from a family
salt will tell you straight away to get away from your past and with a big name.But God chose things that look foolish to the people
live in the present for the future. They will also remind you that of the world. He has used those foolish things to put the wise people
hanging on to things that happened in your past is detrimental for any to shame. God chose the weak things to put to shame the strong
future growth, and in fact, will hamper any attempt to move ahead. people” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).
Of course they are right. I believe that this valuable piece of advice is
straight from the heart of God – He, after all, was the first one to come So, by remembering our past we understand what we were before our
up with the idea that asking forgiveness for a mistake can result in the God encounter! In the proper context this remembrance can serve not
total eradication of the mistake! The really hard thing for most of us to only to keep us humble, but also empower us to help other people
come to terms with is not God’s forgiveness, but rather the ability to with similar past experiences. Paul has the same advice for the believ-
forgive ourselves. So yes, we all need to move away from the past and ers at Ephesus by reminding them what they used to be before coming
focus on the future. to know Christ. It is good to remember where you came from since it
cultivates an appreciation of what has been done for you. In remem-
However, there is an instance where it is good to remember the past. bering our past in this manner, God is glorified, and therefore it is good
Please note that I am speaking about a simple recall and not some to dwell on the past.
morbid, introspective digging-up-old-bones! The reason I believe that
our past is sometimes good to remember is that it will keep us humble Our past sins and mistakes also works as an early warning system
in our present and pave the way for a successful future. Paul writes to when faced with similar temptations and issues. The old English adage
the Corinthian congregation, “My brothers, remember what you were says it well – once bitten twice shy. So there are times when it is good
when God chose you” (1 Corinthians 1 :26). He encourages them in the to dwell on the past, albeit briefly, in order that we can live our present
context of his conversation showing how the power of God can trans- and plan our future.
form our very nature. Paul says that before encountering the gracious
power of God, “not many of you were wise by the way people look at

18 | AUGUST 2016 CLmyfaithmag.com