And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. — 1 Corinthians 6:11
It seems that one thing I often hear these days is not to forget the past. I love history and I love to read about events of the past as it helps me understand how things used to be. I understand how different life was without technology. Life was much different without cars or other transportation. Even something as simple as a pen and paper changed history.
But another thing that I often think about when I think of the past is the things that I used to be. Paul says in this verse “such were some of you” talking about the past of the people at Corinth. He had just named a long list of types of people that would not inherit heaven.
He talked about idolators, fornicators, thieves, and many other sins that were listed. No doubt many of you can join me in saying we may have used to be some of the things that Paul said. We all have a past, but thankfully we do not have to dwell on all the things we used to be.
In fact, we can rejoice in the fact that we are no longer those things. As Paul said, we are washed meaning we have been washed clean of those sins. He said we were sanctified, set apart to God, and no longer what we used to be. He said we are justified meaning those sins are no longer laid to our charge. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
There is nothing wrong with remembering the past, but I have no desire to be what I used to be. While I may have the same name and same outward appearance as I have always had, inside there is something different from how things used to be. So do not forget who you used to be, but be thankful of who you are and praise Him for the change He made in you!