The ruins of our lives

There are a few odd things I have a special interest in. One of them is the ruin of an old building.

We took a drive down to the Cape this weekend and we drove past several such ruins. I always wonder what the woman was like who wore an apron in that house. How many little feet were running in that house when it was still a home? What happened to them? How many years ago where they there? While I was pondering on questions as this, it occurred to me that our lives are like that ruins.

Our sinful life that we left behind is a ruined building now. No more life there. No roof. No garden. Just an empty space where there once was life. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Why then is it so difficult for us to walk away from our past?  Why can’t we just forget about the ruin and focus on our new life? 

Firstly, you have to accept the forgiveness available to you.  Jesus died for everything you did wrong in your past and everything you will do wrong in your future.  His blood was enough.  It was the perfect offering.  There is nothing more you can add to it.

Secondly, you have to forgive yourself.  That is the more difficult part.  We all have skeletons in our cupboards and most people will tell you to just forget about them.  I tend to differ.  I will tell you why.  Sometimes, you have to take those skeletons out and look at them with the knowledge and life experience you have now.  Many times you will realise that what you did wrong way back then, was the result of a lack of life experience.  A lack of guidance.  A lack of knowledge.  It makes it easier to forgive yourself for what you did in your past.  If you had the choice today, you wouldn’t do it.

Thirdly, obviously Satan will constantly remind you of your ruin.  He will always try to convince you that your life house still looks that like.  He will try to convince you that you are not worth serving in your church, standing in a ministry, taking part in a cell group or whatever, just because of what you were.  In times like that, you have to remind him of what you are!  You are covered by God’s grace.  Grace is one big word written over your entire past and it covers everything!

The next time you are reminded of your life ruin, focus on this little chorus:

I’ve got a mansion
Right over the hilltop
In that bright land where, we’ll never grow old
And someday yonder
We will never more wonder
But walk on streets that are purest gold.

May God help you today to accept His forgiveness, to forgive yourself and to focus on your new life in Christ!