Good Morning!
Do you ever think about your past? Are there things in your past that are not pleasurable to think about? What is in your past that comes to your mind more quickly...Good or Bad? When you consider your past, aren't you glad that God has forgiven you and wiped clean your slate of past misgivings! Past choices? Past ambitions?
Two things I am certain of...I am glad that I have a God who loves me enough to forgive me and clean me up. AND, I never have a desire to go back into my past and live it over again! I am happy to be a child of God TODAY...and live in His forgiveness where He remembers my sins no more.
The writer of Galatians has said the same thing. But, after sharing with the Galatians the Gospel of Jesus Christ he is astonished that they would even think about going back to their past and living as they did prior to receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live as they did outside of God's grace.
Now that you are saved and have experienced God's forgiveness and grace...would you want to go back to what you were before you received God's salvation?
I don't think so. But, Paul said some people have done that very thing. It was both troubling and disappointing for Paul. Read 4:8-9,11, 15-16, 18-20:
"But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.
But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God,
how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces?
Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
...I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted...
What happened to this sense of being blessed you had?
For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
...Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you.
My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.
I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you."
Paul was living a nightmare! Why would those who had given their lives to Jesus Christ have a desire to turn back to their former life...their former attitudes...their former insecurities...their former decision-making...their former life of no direction?
Notice he says that "But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God". First, how could you turn away from God now that you know Him? But, more importantly, how could you turn back knowing that GOD KNOWS YOU?
Remember in Matthew 7:23 when Jesus says a judgment will be pronounced to those who claim to have done things in the name of Jesus, but have no relationship with Him and will cry out "Lord, Lord!" only to hear the words, "Depart from Me. I never knew you!"
Paul is asking them how they could turn back to the "weak and bankrupt forces" in this world?
The choice is easy to make. We do not desire to leave the Light to walk in the darkness...again. God is our light and in Him, there is NO darkness...at all.
It was a problem for Paul. He was in a place to say, "I don't know what to do about you."
During this season of celebrating God sending His Son to this world to provide His forgiveness and eternal life to all who by Faith trust and believe that He is their Savior you KNOW without a doubt that He is the Light of the world and the Light of your life.
Thank Him for that fact. Praise Him for what He has done for you. And make a promise that you will never turn back to the weak and bankrupt things that fill this world. That, my friend, is a Merry Christmas!
May God Bless You!
Don Betts
DBEA/campus320
DBEAWINNING.COM
TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!