Today I saw that same old crowd I knew before
When they asked me what had happened
I tried to tell them
Thanks to Calvary I don't come here anymore
~Bill Gaither, Thanks To Calvary~
I read a story once of a recovering addict who, as a reminder of what not to do, would every so often visit those places from his past where he'd done so much harm to his life. For awhile it seemed to work, as he was able to keep his sobriety intact. However, one night the thought hit him, "what harm would it do to have one last party?" Well, as you can guess, his commitment to sobriety took a brief respite. I have heard far too many times from well meaning Christians of the "old forgotten ways" which they seem to visit every so often. Now, I suppose if your will power is strong enough, you might be able to get away with exposing yourself to behaviors which you know are destructive, but why would you? I used to have a bad habit of pornography, which would often include visits to local strip clubs. Good enough, it's a old forgotten road which I no longer travel. Well, the issue with that is that one of my better friends works at one of these establishments. Believe me, the temptation has been there to go and visit my friend from time to time. Yet, through the wonders of modern communication, I've managed to avoid such a situation. I'm really not that worried, however, because I know in my heart the kind of man that I am. By that I mean, I know where my identity lies, and it's not in the dark corner of a strip club. Those are old forgotten ways. I turn to the apostle Paul for a example. Now, by his own admission, Paul was indeed one of the worst sinners {1 Timothy 1:15}. It was Saul who persecuted the early church vigorously. However, it was also Saul whom God chose to present His message to all of His children. I am of the belief that God could have chosen anyone to speak on His behalf...why such a man as Saul? Well, in retrospect, there has never been a better advocate for Christ Jesus than the one who formerly persecuted Him. So, I ask this question, how many times throughout Paul's ministry do we see him referencing his old behaviors? Not too many. To Paul these were his old forgotten ways. Paul knew the man he was as well. For it is Paul who reminds us of who it is we are in Galatians. Gone, put to death even, is that old man we once knew. In his place we have a new identity in Christ {Galatians 2:20}. The old forgotten ways are left behind.
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, recon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV
If there was one thing the recovering addict was missing was his identity in Jesus. For if he had that knowledge he could say with confidence, "I'm dead to those behaviors!" Indeed, when I think of my own old forgotten ways, I do so with the knowing in my heart that they no longer define the man that I am. They have become, truly, old forgotten ways. As Christians, all too often we get stuck in the ruts of behaviors we once engaged in. Folks, keep in mind that it is not God who is tapping you on your shoulder and reminding you of your old ways. No, it is Satan our accuser who is speaking to you. It is Satan who is trying so very hard to once again be a part of your life. When I came to the realization of Christ in me, it was Satan who was cast aside forever. However, like the minions from the popular movie, he continues to entice me from time to time. We know that God cannot be tempted, and that He Himself does not tempt anyone {James 1:13}. So, who is it that you think is speaking to you trying to get you back to those old forgotten ways? Yep, the same one who spoke the lie to Eve in the garden {Genesis 3:4-5}. We can rest assured that God will NEVER tempt any one of His children. Nor will Jesus. So it is that those old forgotten ways are best left in the dumpster with Satan. These days, when I recall my old forgotten ways, it is not to remember them fondly, but as a affirmation of the man I am now in Christ Jesus.
~Scott~
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