The Past As Prosecutor

When the thought, the past as prosecutor, came to mind, I laughed a little, and then cringed a little, as I looked here and there to see if anyone bore witness to my discomfort: Who heard that, and can they see what I did way back when without me verbalizing? 

I told a client recently that shame is a good sign that points us in the direction of reflecting on missteps and choices we made that we now regret. When I visit my past it is to pick-up and examine peculiar objects that I now object to, as though what I said, what I did, were things of disdain ... and many of them are, dear reader! 

What if sins as a collective collegian cohort. whose main purpose is to pull us down, suddenly turn traitor on themselves, throw on a halo, and begin to prosecute as though they were the "good" guys. This, in a nutshell, is what happens when someone like say, you, or someone say, like me, recognizes that all those sins, first conceived and then committed, start screaming from the prosecutors side of the court room, Guilty! the evidence will prove that you are guilty as sin! 

Christians know the moment they compare themselves to Christ, how very fallen they are. To dare to compare is sinful, and is something Jesus would not trifle with:

... who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11)

Imagine being without sin! impossible isn't it? You and I know in our quiet alone moments that we have done things we have a hard time thinking about now because just the thought, makes us uncomfortable and prone to blushing. Brushing off thoughts doesn't always keep them at bay, in fact, they seem to pop up when we least expect them, or want them around. Which brings me to my point. We all have moments in time that seem frozen in our memories. They are there for a reason; if we allow them to enter into our consciousness for a bout of objective observation, they can teach us a lesson or two about ourselves and others:

1. We are wilful

2. We can stop ourselves from doing what we ought not do

3. We can do what we know will cause ourselves and others harm and grief

4. We feel regret and remorse when we do wrongly

5. We can ignore painful thought and action consequences

6. We can pay attention to thought and action consequences

7. We can repeat our stupidity

8. We can learn from our stupidity and resolve to never repeat what causes strife, mental anguish, emotional upheaval, relationship rupture, and shame in front of the One that knows and sees all

We get to choose, for goodness, or for badness, sake! That prosecutor called the past does not have to taint and tell me, or you, what our future will look like. We don't have to play into the trap of, Oh well, this is how I am and I can't change. Yes, you can change, in fact with or without your approval, you are physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, changing every single day. It is how the changes are showing up that let everyone else know what is going on inside of you. What is in the heart comes out of the mouth. What is in the mind shows up symptomatically in the body. You are one unit: your spirit animates your physical being, and your beliefs dictate the directions they want you to take. Sounds so simple to me, and hopefully to you too, when it is put into these terms. 

Now, perhaps it is time for you to examine your conscience, so that it can air the longstanding complaints it has against you. That sentence made me laugh ... picture your conscience as your therapist, sitting with pad of paper on their lap, pen poised to take notes for your review upon departure. How much fun this little honesty session will be for you, dear reader (stated tongue in cheek). 

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)

The purpose of the exercise is not to stew in the sorrow and sourness of a past that cannot be changed. The purpose of this exercise in self-examination is to be made free! Doesn't that sound inviting, dear one? 

1. Look to the past

2. Pick-up and examine your sins

3. Feel the sting of remorse and regret

4. Confess your sins to someone you trust after speaking them on your knees to God

5. Feel the freedom of forgiveness washing over your soul, cleansing and clearing your spirit of unrighteousness

6. Feel too, the chains drop from your hands, from your feet: you are no longer tethered and trapped; you are free because of your humbling of self before your Maker

7. Walk with the Lord, and sin no more, so that your future is bright and is not filled with regrets that hurt and harm

1 John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world

Hebrews 10;26-27 

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 

NOTE: OJ was guilty as sin and everyone, including his defence lawyers, to their shame, knew it. No one can hide from God, and OJ found this out not that long ago. Judgment day is real, and we will really, truly, meet our Maker, each one of us, one day soon. Let us not make a fiasco of the one life God has graciously granted.