Some days it would be nice to go back in time. To undo the mistakes we made when we were younger. If I had exercised more, I wouldn’t have the weak back I do today. If I hadn’t refinanced my house to pay off my debts, I’d have no house payment. If I’d been a Christian when my children were younger, they would be members of a church.
These are all things I wish I could go back and change. But I can’t. I’ve made mistakes. A lot of them. Everyone has. But God has forgotten my past sins. Too bad some days I can’t. If I now say I’m a follower of God, I have to act like it. No longer is lip service going to work.
There is always hope that what you do today will make your future brighter. Proverbs 24:24 states, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. I don’t know about you, but I want a future. I want to know that something better is coming.
I’m a member of my high school graduating class Facebook page. It always amazes me how many people talk about the past. They still listen to the same music from the late 1970’s, early ‘80’s. It’s like if they could go back, they’d be a different person. They don’t seem to realize it’s never too late to be a better you.
If you could go back in time, what would you change? Would you be willing to give up everything you have today to go back in time? That would include your spouse and children. Some people don’t realize that all it takes is one change in your past to give you a different future.
What we do today will set the course for tomorrow. If you want your children to become better Christians, then act like the Christian you’d like them to be. If you want to get out of debt, stop spending, do a budget, and pay off your bills one at a time. I know that’s a lot easier said than done in this economy. However, that’s the only way to get out of debt so you’ll have a better financial future.
Change isn’t easy. We get set in our ways and have a tendency to want to look at what has been. However, we can’t change what’s behind us. Only what’s up ahead.
Give your total commitment to Jesus, and your future will shine brighter than your past ever has.
🙂 So true. One alteration in the past could change the present, but one alteration now could change the future. A great thought!
Thanks, Patty. Can you imagine how different your life would be if you had made just one change in the past? We all think it would have been for the better, but you never know.
Going back in time to change mistakes is something we all wish was possible from time to time, but as Kathy points out, that might also mean giving up some of the best things that our lives have given us. But the sure conviction that we could make a significant change in our future if we made it today, right now, without second guessing and waffling, is perhaps just as scary. We as humans don’t tend to like change and we want to keep one foot in safe territory. Imagine those fishermen, asked to lay aside their nets and turn their backs on their families and follow Christ. Could you do it?
I think everyone is beguiled by the idea of going back and changing something in ours at one time or another in our lives. But as Kathy points out, that might also mean giving up something that is very precious today. We as humans tend to fear change and like to keep at least one foot on safe ground. Imagine those fishermen asked to lay down their nets and turn their backs on their families to follow Christ. Could we do it? Could we give all we are and have?
Exactly, Skye. I know leaving everything behind must have been hard for them. I have a hard time with my youngest being six hours away and we have phones, e-mail and facebook today.