It's Over

A moment of silence, please, as I toss out the post-Super Bowl issue of the sports magazine. As a Bronco fan, I had hoped for an issue to place in a special drawer, perhaps protected by a plastic sleeve, to keep for a while. However, the memory is just too painful and the cover of the magazine is a harsh reminder of our team's dismal failure. For those folks in Seattle, 'abject whomping' might be a better term, but they can keep their own copy safe; mine must go. What's done is done. As Paul reminds me, I must put aside those things which have gone before, and press on toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The use of a sports story is somewhat less than serious, but we all have things in the past that must be let go. It's over; hand in the memories, stop writhing in shame, put aside the regret and what-if's, and move on to the goal God has in mind for us. Our favorite team's loss in a big match is hardly life threatening, but many of us have things in our past that cause pain even today. Imagine Paul's pain and emotional distress as he thought of the days when he pulled people from their homes to face torture and stoning. Imagine the apostle's shame as he remembered how right he thought he was in those days. What a sterling example of leaving the past behind and moving on to his calling in Christ!

Turn around stories are great, but let's move on in Christ. Move on to the new life in Jesus, and use that story only as a testimony of God's grace. Put down that whip of self-shaming from the past. Have a better day in Jesus!

Bucky