Loathing Past Failures
Ezekiel 20:42-43, "And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.”
I thank God for the forgiveness of our sins, which is only made possible through the blood of the Lord Jesus. His blood is the basis upon which God shows mercy to those who are guilty of sin. Jesus Christ is our propitiation, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) No one can work their way to Heaven, Christ alone can save!
Today’s passage talks about a time when Israel will be brought back into the land, and yet they will loathe their sinful past. Everyone I have ever met has something about their past which they loathe. No one can say, “My past has been perfect, I have no regrets, there is nothing in my life which brings disdain or sorrow.” The Pulpit Commentary says, “The words stretch far and wide, and throw light on many of the problems that connect themselves with the conversion of the sinner… The whole evil past is still remembered after repentance and forgiveness, the self-loathing and humility which grow out of that memory, the acceptance of all the punishment of the past as less than had been deserved, these are the conditions and safeguards of the new blessedness.”
Ezekiel teaches in this passage although God’s blessings would return upon Israel, that the memory of past failure, shame, and self-loathing would remain a part of their life’s experience.
We are not to focus upon our past but upon our future. Paul states this clearly in Philippians 3:13-14, “…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.” Forgetting in this passage doesn’t refer to the total absence of memory, that is impossible, it does, however, refer to living in such a way as to not allow the past to interfere with your current and future walk with God. People who get right with God will loathe their past sin and failure while desiring to live for God in the present.
May we thank God for the forgiveness we have in Christ Jesus, loathe our sinful past, and press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Enjoy your day rejoicing in the goodness of God!
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. What do you loathe about your past?
2. How should we take care of our past failures?
3. How should we face the future?