Feeling Salty

This weekend, Pastor spoke on God's dealings with us as His children. The crux of the message was that God is interested in the present-future, not the present-past. To summarize this concept, people are very much hung up on their past, which prevents them from walking into the future that God has ordained for them. God said in Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you..." to which we add "...and if I can ever get past what I've done, I'll walk into that destiny."

God does not deal with the past of His children in a judgmental way. He has already judged our sin completely. Paul said,

Php 3:13-14 MKJV
(13) My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Very few of us could boast a past as abysmal as Paul's. Read about him - he wasn't nice.

As this word was being presented to us, the Lord brought me a thought that I'll record here, so as to share and not forget.

We are to be salt and light. (Matt 5:13) I've never really understood the detail of Lot's wife until now. She is a picture of a redeemed Christian that is hung up on the baggage of her past. She was truly redeemed - she was out of harms way. But she could not let go of her past, and she became a pillar of salt. Still salt, yes, but now a motionless pillar, unable to distribute but only available as an example from which people could take as they needed or desired. People, that is about as lame as your ministry can get, but if you are a child of God, you will minister in some way - even if it's from example.

God is interested in what you are - and what you are becoming in Him. This is your testimony. He isn't interested in what you've been - that's old news. He is a God of new wine. We are to become more like Jesus every day. This gives much value to the gift of prophecy - for this is the right-now word about your future. Embrace the plans God has for you, and "forget the things behind" that have only served to weigh you down.