"Messages"

2 Corinthians Chapter 5, verse 17:  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Eventually this person will come back to temptation that is directly connected with their past. This person may become friends with a person who was with them when they did bad things that they now regret. They may even live with people who once led them astray but he or she is still trying to be good and keep away from the old life. Or other events will become an attraction or seem to be. The point being made here is that, as many people who have become Born Again will testify to, the past will come back sometime and you, the person who regrets the past, will have to make a direct final decision about it. If we feel totally disconnected with the past then we can help people who did what we used to do come away from it and along with the work of Christ we can help create a better person.

Subdue your appetites...and you have conquered human nature - Charles Dickens.

For some people this is very easy.  Only a moment or so of thought and they walk away vowing never to go back to that 'past person' that they once were again. Some will have a struggle because they took some joy in the old days and never really repented. Some repent and have other issues, probably fears that tempt them back to the old ways, the old life of sin and general unhappiness.

The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear - William Gurnall.

Nobody who ever loved themselves ever went back to the past life and became as they once were. In fact if we look around at those who live that life as we did we see unhappy unconfident people, many looking ragged and many boasting proudness because they know deep down that they made a dreadful life-mistake by going back to the past but didn't have the courage or didn't believe that they could stay away from it for some reason.

Colossians Chapter 3, verse 9:  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 

As for me I have had the hardest 6-7 years of my life recently and I would have it no other way. To go back to the past I could never do. The past is long and gone to my great relief. Now with you it should be the same. We handle life and crises differently so each person reading this will get something different from these thoughts. But believe this: Going back is certain failure, certain disappointment and misery. Continual growth and life changing is the only way to happiness - if done in God's ways. We need to put the old man (the old you/me) away for good...

Romans Chapter 6, verse 6:  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Going forward and changing our life is certain happiness even in the hard times. I can personally vouch for that. If you stop where you are and go back to the old life then you will never know the security that I know, you will never feel the love I know and when I try to share loving thoughts with you, you will not understand what I am trying to explain to you - your mind and focus will be on the old ways, the old life, from which God tried to drag you from permanently. But as is with the horse, you can be led to the water but you don't have to drink (from the cup of life).

Billions of people since the beginning of times are not wrong in following the truths of God. 

There will come a time after God has protected you and given you light, love and lessons then like all good decent parents He will leave you to see how you deal with the situation. Like the cigarette smoker, after a year of being off the habit then being left in a room with nobody around will he or she take the bait that is laid for them, will that person light up and have a smoke or will that person have it deeply set in their heart that the damage and suffering to come will come from the taking up of the cigarette.

Eventually God will step back and let you deal with the big decision. It is your choice in the end and only you can make that choice. But your choice must be final and convincing. We all need to find out who we want to be in our heart and going backwards will only lead to known ground of failure - going forward may have its struggles but there is light at the end of the tunnel where the rainbow ends, keep trying and you will get there.

God can only protect us until we are ready to stand up on our own two feet then we have to try ourself - if we go backward God will still be with us and we start all over again but that can take a long time, it is far better to learn and step forward to the new life of happiness and instant changes.

Whoever lives true life, will love true love - E R Browning.

Leviticus Chapter 19, verse 18:  ...thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. 

Ephesians Chapter 4, verse 22:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 

Luke Chapter 12, verse 32:  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.