“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit” …”He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.”
In chapter 12, Abram pathetically lied to Pharaoh, telling him that his wife was instead, his sister. Abram placed his own safety above the safety and integrity of his wife. So, as I read this passage about his nephew being kidnapped by powerful kings, I found myself waiting to see how Abram would again spinelessly try to avoid trouble.
But what I saw was Abram’s brave liberation of Lot. He courageously led his men in a dangerous rescue against great odds. That is not what I expected since he had been such a coward earlier. Then it dawned on me…
Abram is not defined by his worst mistake. Thankfully, neither are we.
What if you and I were labeled by our most humiliating failures? Unfortunately, too many of us believe that is the case. We get stuck in the shame of our past, thinking what we’ve done is too big to forgive. But God does more than forgive His children. He obliterates our sin and remembers it no more. No matter how egregious your sin is, the blood of Christ eradicates it … Never doubt the power of His blood. It alone sets you free.
Make no mistake, Abram won’t be flawless on this side of Heaven. In fact, he will struggle again with the same temptations. But God still loves him, still delivers him, and will even give him a new name. Each day Abram obediently grows stronger and is used to do amazing things for God’s Kingdom.
You are not disqualified. Christ’s resurrection does more than clean you… it allows you to start over. God sees only the perfection of His Son when He looks at you.
Abandon your shame… it is a lie. You are a new creation free from your past… Your future is empowered by the Cross. God’s mercy is new each morning, you have been reborn, no longer bearing the stain of your sin.
Forget what lies behind and persist in becoming the brave, honorable man God created you to be.
“Who you’ve been, ain’t who you got to be.” – Tim McGraw
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