God’s Light Makes All Things New

Published by Deborah Negron M.A.

There is never anything done that will be completely hidden.
The Lord is not one to leave a stone unturned.
The Bible tells us that whatsoever a (man) person soweth (plants) that is what that person will reap (gather). In other words when we plant discension and bitterness, thatis what we will have grow. When we plant unforgiveness and grudges, that is what will be the motus operandi.

He sees the reasons behind our thought processes. He know the motivations of our hearts. When we seek him, he reveals to us all the things that we must come to terms with. He desires to heal our brokenness. Yet the only way to be healed is to come clean. To confess our sin, our hurts or anger, our frustrations and our lacks. Then surrender them to the Lord. He is more than faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse our hearts and give us a different outlook.

When I was young my dad got sick. I was angry at God. I took it out on God. At the time I did not know it, but I stopped having faith in God for some time. I believed he had wronged me. I then became angry and hurt and did things my own way. I ended up at the wrong place in the wrong time with the wrong person. I got pregnant. When told the only way to redeem myself was to get married, by some religious man, my parents signed and I got married at 15. I was angry for years because I felt they had forced me. Truth is, I wanted to have my own way and it cost me my freedom.

The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:13
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

In life we will fail, fall and have opportunities to mend our ways. Parents are not always perfect but they were servants of God. They did what they thought was right at the time.
As imperfect ourselves, we need to give others the same mercy and grace Christ afforded to us.

On another note, the Bible tells us to honor our parents. It does not tell us to honor them only when they are perfect or do everything right. It tells us to honor them. As a matter of fact, the Bible gives us this command in,

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Ephesians 6:2 – 3 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Even Jesus on the cross entrusted his mother’s care to John the disciple.

We read here in John 19:25 – 27
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

I recall the day when I asked my mom and dad to forgive me for the wrongs I had commited. That same day my parents told me that Christ had forgiven me and they would as well. Mom also asked me to forgive her for the choices she had made in trying to do the right thing and failing. We hugged and forgiveness came easy. Today we relish in a relationship based on love, trust and who Christ has made us to be.
The old Debbie that was rebellious and selfish is gone. The new creation is grateful for the opportunity to cherish my parents knowing full well, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yes, even me. I must judge others with the same measure I gauge myself. I must show mercy and compassion. Christ showed me compassion when I disobeyed his commandments. When I had sinned wilfully, He saved me. All I had to do was admit my wrong and ask with a contrite humble spirit. He set me free from my past failures and sins.

Oh sweet fellowship can be ours when we forgive. New beginnings can be new moments of joy as we share the love God has afforded us with one another.

I honor my Mom and Dad today for they taught me how to ask Christ for forgiveness. They showed me by example that Jesus can make all things new.

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

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12

Newness Of Life

Forgiven So We Can Forgive

The Clarion- Ledger