You often hear older members of society start a sentence: "I remember when I was a child…" they would get that glassy look in their eye as they recall the days of their youth. More people reflect on days in the past as being better than today. They say things like, "Life was easier back in my day", "We didn’t have all this road rage and gang members, and high crime rates". But if you look at their era or any one era in the past everyone had a tough time regardless of what they think. Two world wars, stock market crash, depression, prohibition, Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, Vietnam… the list goes on and on.

Some Christians face a similar problem. A lot of the younger crowd become converted and after only a couple months backslide to their former lives. Why? The path of righteousness is too difficult for them. Even Jesus said it would be, "Because narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way, which leads to life, and there are few that find it." (Matt. 7:14 NKJV). Other young people would prefer to "enjoy life the world has to offer" and be converted later on. A similar scene happened when the apostle Paul talked with Felix in Acts 24:25, "And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me."

Other Christians are too eager to become saved that they don’t fully realize the sacrifices needed to make for a life long commitment. Jesus warned in Luke 9:58, "…The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven `have' nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus was referring to fact that He didn’t have the comforts of a home or family to fall back on. Many will backslide to their former ways and for this Jesus also warned, "or what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?" (Matt. 16:26)

There are also the "Doubting Christians" who think salvation has to be more than the 5 Step Plan that they are unsure if all of their sins are forgiven. They’ll reflect on their former life looking for a sin, which couldn’t have been forgiven. The apostle John said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 9) John also goes on to say in 1 John 5:10-13, "10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. 11. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. 13. These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, `even' unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God." Simply put if you believe in God then you can believe that He can do anything including forgiving ALL sins.

The apostle Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) It’s not worth it to dwell on the past. What’s over is over and once your sins are forgiven they are forever forgiven. "And Peter `said' unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) If you do look back then you are not fit for the kingdom of heaven (Luke 9: 62)

(May 19,2002)