Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good. Psalm 25:7 NIV
This is a tough political climate to enter as a candidate because everything in your past is scrutinized. Every date relationship that a man has taken is evaluated for purity standards. Yearbooks are combed through to find pictures and statements of racism or lack of moral character. Any acquaintance becomes a liability witness to what they saw or heard you say to another person. Finances are evaluated for who you have supported, charitable donations, or overall management. Your past follows you like neon colored bread crumbs leading back to the stupid decisions made in your youth. For some the crumbs become a ball and chain that is carried throughout the rest of life.
There is a difference for those who follow Jesus. Sins are still committed and included in the person’s testimony. However, when sins are forgiven, owned, and repented, they lose the stench that surrounds the action. Consider King David, he is remembered as a man after God’s own heart. Yet, he committed adultery and had the woman’s husband killed. Peter denied Jesus 3 times, yet he is the rock who preached on the day of Pentecost and 3000 people became followers of Jesus. Doubting Thomas became a bold apostle whose influence is still found in India today. God’s mercy transforms our past.
What are the steps forward to address the sins of our youth so we can be free?
- What remains hidden still has power to control your life. The strength of secret past actions is the fear of being found out. Confessing it to God is the beginning of freedom through the power of the blood of Jesus.
- Humility is required to take the proper ownership for actions. Others had some influence on your actions, but you are ultimately in control of your thoughts, words, emotions, and actions. Stop blaming your parents or circumstances.
- A truly broken and contrite heart is relatable to all. So is hypocrisy. There is grace given to go and sin no more. Not so much for repeated actions.
- Confessing to another person can bring healing. It breaks the power of judgment that haunts. Acknowledging the skeletons in the closet to another has the potential to clean it out.
Jesus life and death is the only power to address true change of our past. Hide your sins in the goodness of God’s mercy, you will be glad that you did.
Blessings Love y’all