“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“The past is not as dead as an old door nail.”

When I recently traveled back from Kansas seeing my mother, I had some interesting thoughts.

I had to write them down but of course, one doesn’t start typing these things when driving. At any rate, I will do my best to explain these things here below.

I was reminiscing about my past and time spent years ago. I was always searching for whatever The Truth was about life, death — and everything.

I grew up in a small Kansas town and probably would have been considered a hippie. I may or may not, have looked the part, but much of my thoughts about life in general, were encapsulated about that.

Years later, I had an epiphany, and as some would probably say, a spiritual experience.

It was earth-shattering to me, and soon afterwards, I joined a local Bible Study group in my small Kansas town.

Of course, in a small town it’s rather difficult to hide one’s identity and beliefs, so I lived my life realizing at the time that the past was gone, and that now I was living a new life.

I had chosen then to leave my past life behind and embraced the life of a true believer, studying the written Word and seeking out Truth through The Son of God.

But organized religion did not really thrill me with all of its pomp and circumstance. My real thrust was in having a relationship with the living God.

And so, after almost 50 years now, I see that even the past has bearing on myself and my beliefs. Indeed, I am a product of the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.

Some philosophies and religions say to “Live in the present,” in order to enjoy life to its fullest as well as to understand one’s self and to be at peace.

And while this is true, we are a product of what we have experienced before as well as looking ahead to the future.

Indeed, we all are a product of these three things.

None of us can fully escape the aspect of TIME — and yet of course, we change!

We grow older and we view the world differently than when we were younger.

We have more responsibilities, and perhaps develop new friendships.

Don’t let go of the strings that have been attached to your identity. These are the fruits and structure from which you have now come.

Yes, for those who have now chosen to live the life of Christ within, the old life as it is said, is gone, and yet I say that not all of the old life is bad.

Some of it has framed us, and chiseled-out who we are.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
Stephen is a full-time Artist of original architectural, landscape, portrait, still-life and spiritual oil paintings, available at StephenHansonArtist.com

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