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Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.“ – Ezekiel 36:26
Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. – Isaiah 43:18
To be truly forgiven is like no other experience. To know you have wronged someone and that person doesn’t just minimize it, repress it, or sweep it under some proverbial rug…but truly forgives you. To be the recipient of such complete, grace-filled forgiveness transforms a person.
God transforms us through taking all our wrongs against Him and, through His Son and by the Holy Spirit, He makes us right. Transformed into children of the One True God. We are no longer the same persons, even, that we were then. Not now, and not anymore.
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Do we struggle with sin still? Yes. While we live, we struggle, but with a heart and mind changed by a loving, righteous, all-wise God. We don’t live in perfection (yet) but we live in the strength of the Lord.
Thank God we never have to go back to the way it used to be.
Josh Wilson wrote a song that describes this so well – the then and the now. Worship and celebrate with me, singing or meditating on his song. Hmmm…this is more a song of jubilation than contemplation…so sing it out, if you know that forgiveness. If not, it’s still available to you. God draws us to Himself…hear His voice.
We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast
We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong
‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
Your sins are gone
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
We’ve been remade by grace
We’ve all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day
When love came running like a river
We got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
And you belong
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then
If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
‘Cause that was then and this is now*
*Lyrics to That Was Then, This Is Now by Josh Wilson
YouTube Video – Josh Wilson – That Was Then, This Is Now
YouTube Video – Story Behind That Was Then, This Is Now
Story Songs – New Release Today’s Review of album That Was Then, This Is Now
That Was Then, This Is Now – Audio CD – Josh Wilson
YouTube Video – This Is Now by Casting Crowns (Thrive CD) – following the story of the Apostle Peter
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