It’s interesting to hear folks tell about how things were when they were growing up. We’ve all heard the stories of children walking ten miles to school – uphill both ways! So, how was your childhood? Did you have the “perfect life” growing up? Was your family ideal or are there skeletons in your closet?
More than “Santa,” (who doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, you know,) God really doesn’t care what kind of background you have. It doesn’t matter who your parents were, what kind of formal education you’ve received, or what address you call home. God doesn’t even care what you’ve done in the past. Paul told the Corinthians, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate; nor abusers of themselves with mankind; nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you….” (I Corinthians 6:9-11a) Yes, there were some Christians in the church there in Corinth who had been involved in such sinful acts, “but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11b) It didn’t matter – they had been baptized. They were now members of the church. John reminded persecuted members of the first century church that “he who overcomes will inherit, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” (Revelation 21:7) If we are “faithful unto death, we will receive a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
Friends, it doesn’t matter how hard of a life you once had. It doesn’t matter how sinful a life you once lived. It doesn’t matter who you WERE! What matters is who you ARE! What matters is that you’ve heard the Word, believed it, repented of your sins, confessed Christ’s name before men, and were baptized to wash your sins away. You are now a “child of the King!” Act like it! God Bless, Courtney
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