John 21:4-6, ESV – “v4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. v5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” v6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”
Two friends of mine got into an interesting conversation. It had to do with a drug addict who got saved and pledged never to go back to sniffing cocaine. This person, for several reasons best known to him, went back to the ‘gangster’ life he once belonged to. It is highly possible for us to go back to our past lives of sin, especially when we encounter challenges in our Christian Walk.
Though Jesus had resurrected and had appeared to His disciples, He was not with them in person as He used to, before His death. With all hopes lost and no work to do, Peter and some disciples went back to their fishing career that frustrated them often times. As usual, they toiled all night without catching any fish.
Let us recall that it was this same experience of toiling all night without catching any fish that led to Peter’s call to become Jesus’ disciple (Luke 5:1-10). Just as it happened in his previous experience, Jesus’ presence led to bountiful catch of fish again. His real purpose to be a fisher of men was renewed after that experience.
In our Christian journey, uncertainties and trials will always confront us. There will be times we will feel that Jesus Christ is absent in our lives. Looking back and returning to that seemingly beautiful but empty life at such points in life is a very bad idea. If you find yourself under great pressure due to employment, financial or marital challenges, that is not the moment to return to your old life.
It is absolutely important; Focusing on the future, and refusing to go back to the past don’t make you forget anything from your past. We have been liberated from our past life. We also need to cooperate with Holy Spirit be liberated from traditions: Our traditions are without God, and they become a stronghold & become demonic.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t talk to us about our past. Don’t go dragging your past life into your future. Listen to what the great Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13-14)
Our past life is past & gone, as far as God is Concerned – THE DEVIL WILL BRING IT UP BUT DO NOT TAKE ANY NOTICE OF IT – the only being in the world who wants us to remember our ‘sordid’ past is the devil. It does not matter how messed up your past life was, if you turn to Jesus Christ as your Saviour, He will turn all the bad past into a glorious future. Our past is not relevant to God – you & I have some done daft and terrible things the past but God doesn’t want that to affect His Miracle working Power in your future, so He has made provisions for that.
That is the time to reflect on the impact Jesus Christ has made in your life and His assuring promises for you. Jesus appeared to Peter and demonstrated once again that, without His presence in a person’s life, that life is empty. Without Jesus Christ, no amount of labour can make us reach our utmost blessing. Don’t go back to that past life; your issue will end in a testimony. Amen.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I ask for Grace to patiently wait on You, especially in times that the pressures of life seem to swallow me up. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. Prosper me bountifully, that I will be a blessing to others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
QUESTION FOR MEDITATION
Is it possible for me to go back to my sinful past?
