A New Life

Have you ever gone through a death experience?  Someone you love passed away suddenly, or over a prolonged, agonizing season of time?  Either way, it felt, and maybe still feels like the sorrow you’ve experienced is an endless, dark valley.  You might have had a career altering episode where years of hard work are wiped out in an unforeseen, sudden ending.  Anybody that’s gone through a divorce knows the trauma of a dying that leaves so many with open wounds difficult to heal.  Parents wake up one day to find their children grown up and moved out.  It’s one of those strange moments in life where it’s all good, but they’re all gone.  The past is no more and there’s no going back.  You can say it however you want, but it’s a death experience for you. 

Jesus often dealt with the hard things in life by directing us to consider the natural things that Father God so perfectly manages.  Look at what He says in Matthew 10:29-31: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  Did you hear that?  You are of more value than many sparrows.  God hasn’t just counted the hairs on your head, He has numbered them.  Your Maker has a running inventory of your hair follicles! 

Sparrows die, hair falls out, leaves fall off trees, the wildflowers God plants are here today, and gone tomorrow, but one thing surely remains - God’s watchful, tender, Fatherly love for you.  Yes, He is a God of seasons.  Don’t live in the past because God has a great plan ahead for you.  Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Philippians 3:13 “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.”  God has great things ahead for you and that’s why the enemy of your soul works so hard to get you to hold onto that death experience. 

Look at what Isaiah 43:18-19 says: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”  God does this for you and me, but here’s the price you have to pay; you must let go of the past. 

Early in our marriage Pam and I miscarried our twin boys.  That’s death.  It hurt so bad.  We were tempted to shut down, close our hearts, and stay forever in mourning and sadness, but God had a better plan.  Yes, that’s offensive to your heart to even believe that in the moment, but God’s Truth supersedes the facts that are tormenting your heart.  We choose to worship God and thank Him that our boys are safe with Him in Heaven.  We didn’t lose them.  They’re with Jesus in the land of the living.  So, we worship God knowing that He is The Resurrection and the Life. 

Isaiah 60:1 says “Arise, shine; For your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”  New life is here, right now, for you.  God says “Arise!” but you can choose to live in the past instead.  Your future is ahead of you, not behind you.  Our boys, and the loved ones who have died are ahead of us, not behind.  It’s a new season my friend and it’s time for you to arise and shine.  Let go of every loss at the cross of Jesus and let Him heal you, restore you, and fill you with His resurrection power.  It’s time to arise to your new life in Him.     

Pray the Word:

Father God I’m done living in the past.  Yes, I’ve had hurts, losses, and even deaths that have taken their toll on me, but they’re nothing that You can’t perfectly heal.  You made the Heavens and the earth.  You turned the curse into a blessing for me because You love me.  I choose to arise and shine, for Your glory has come upon me!  It’s no longer me living, but Christ living on the inside of me.  You told me to let go of the former things, so I let go.  I let go of fear.  You said that You do a new thing and I want to know it.  I choose Your good plans, blessings, and provision.  I’ve got all of eternity to spend with my departed loved ones.  It’ll be so good, but now is the time for me to arise and shine for Your glory has come upon me for all to see.  AMEN!