Remembrance of Things Past -- Rejoice in Blessings Eternal

In many meetings, I would recall how grown-up men and women would remember things past, as if they were still happening currently.

One young man would bawl about a terrible coworker during half of his sharing, then he would cry and pout about the fact that his father promised him a red bicycle for Christmas. He was so expecting that bicycle, and when Christmas came, and there was no bicycle, he was "Really sad."

How many years later, he was still talking about how sad and mad he was about the whole thing.

"The red bicycle," he would go on and on. "That red bicycle, and my Dad never got it!

To sit around and relive the memories is an outrageous waste of time, not to mention unhealthy and dysfunctional. Men and women do not grow as long as the insist on reliving the previous hurts instead of taking in the present options and future opportunities.

To such painful recriminations, I respond:

"Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;" (Zechariah 9: 12)

and

"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins." (Isaiah 40: 2)

and

"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 7)

Every believer in Christ has received double for all of his sin, shame, and sorrow. Through His death on the Cross, we receive forgiveness of all our sins -- paid for, removed, with no fear of future recompense. All our sins are covered -- past, present, future -- for the blood of Jesus keeps on cleansing us (1 John 1: 7). By His resurrection, we receive Christ's own righteousness, peace, and joy through His Holy Spirit, which makes us one with Him! (1 John 4: 17)

Instead of mourning what we have lost, we can rejoice in God who is greater that time, testing, and trials, a God who takes our past and transforms it into a glorious present.

12-Step meetings are notoriously stunting when it comes to managing one's thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The true solace for man is found in the rest promised in Jesus!