Seeing Clearly: How Christ Shapes Our Timeline
Bishop Leonard Chatham
Have you ever felt stuck in your past, unsure of your present, or anxious about your future? What if I told you that there's One who can bring clarity to all three aspects of your life? Let's explore how Jesus Christ, "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), can transform our perspective and give us 20/20 vision for our lives.
Hindsight: Embracing God's Love in Our Past
When we look back on our lives, it's easy to get caught up in regrets or past mistakes. But here's the truth: "There is nothing about my past that God can't heal me of. There's nothing about my past that God can't deliver me from." Our past is where we first encounter God's love, as John 3:16 reminds us: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
This love isn't just a feeling – it's an action. Romans 8:28 tells us, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Our past, with all its ups and downs, is part of God's plan to shape us and bring us to where we are today.
Insight: Recognizing Our Calling in the Present
Now, let's talk about today – the present moment we're living in. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Our present is where we recognize and step into our calling.
Remember the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5? She didn't let her past define her present. Instead, "She knew that she could be healed. She knew that healing was in his garment. And she knew that if she could just touch the hem of his garment," she would be made whole. Her faith in the present moment connected her to Jesus' power.
In our present, we have a choice: to live under the law or under grace. Galatians 5:4 warns us, "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." But when we choose to live in God's grace, we position ourselves to experience His power in our lives right now.
Foresight: Embracing God's Purpose for Our Future
What about our future? This is where God's purpose for our lives comes into focus. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Just as an ophthalmologist helps correct our vision, God wants to align our perspective of the future with His. "Whenever your vision is distorted, you go to the ophthalmologist, and the ophthalmologist makes you look into an instrument and tell you to read what is in the future." God wants to correct our vision so we can see His purpose for our lives clearly.
Putting It Into Practice: Corrected Vision for Life
So how do we apply this understanding of Christ's unchanging nature to our past, present, and future? Here are some practical steps:
Embrace God's love for your past: Take time to reflect on how God has worked in your life, even in difficult times. Thank Him for His faithfulness.
Live in grace in the present: Choose to live under God's grace rather than trying to earn His favor. Ask Him to show you your calling and purpose.
Trust God with your future: Pray for "corrected vision" to see your future as God sees it. Ask Him to align your plans with His purpose.
Stay focused on Christ: Remember, "He's the same yesterday. He's the same today. He's the same forever. He could change and make everything all right with your past. He could do something about your present, and he could do something about your future."
As you apply these principles, may you experience the transforming power of Christ in every aspect of your life – past, present, and future. After all, "Isaiah said that he sets on the circumference of the earth, and he's watching over his Word to perform it. That means that God's vision about you has not changed."
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