‘Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.’ – Mother Teresa
What a rich history that is present in Gamlingay. You can both hear about it and experience it throughout the village. Our church is not excluded from such richness. In 1670 GBC came into existence (with John Bunyan, writer of Pilgrim’s Progress, as its first minister in 1671) and this month on May 7th, we will be celebrating our anniversary. There is something special and nostalgic about looking back through the years at where one has come from and what one has achieved. However, looking back becomes difficult, when the past isn’t so glorious or is simply just painful!
Real life often brings with it: real pain, strife, difficulties and brokenness. Often, when our past is full of those situations, we tend not to think about history and can sometimes let such situations shape our present and our future. In Jesus though, we find someone who is not too worried about people’s pasts. Repeatedly throughout scripture, we see Jesus reach out to those whose pasts are far from ‘good’:
– There’s the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, who is an outcast in her society based on her past decisions. To her, Jesus appears and offers living water, salvation.
– What about the story of the woman caught in adultery? On the verge of being stoned, Jesus says to those around her, that he who has not sinned can cast the first stone. The crowd clears and Jesus simply offers her forgiveness, and the opportunity to continue without judgement.
– One could also look at the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who’d made himself rich by cheating everyone around him. An encounter with Jesus leaves Zacchaeus transformed, where his past was not affecting his present or his future.
– And many, many more!
Regardless of our pasts, good, bad or ugly, Jesus is ready to meet with us; to offer us freedom from our brokenness; to give us salvation and eternal life. I know these are some big concepts, which may not make any sense. However, without knowing what’s coming tomorrow, are they not worth exploring today? Yesterday has happened, and we can’t do much to change it, but Jesus is ready for you today, no matter your past! As Mother Teresa said, ‘Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.’
ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN THE MAY 2017 EDITION OF THE GAMLINGAY GAZZETTE.
Simple Faith 