We Can Only Do So Much

We usually record our Sunday worship. I then have to run it through several processes to get it ready to upload to the internet. Since we had a baptism and I had some extra things to prepare, I started the video recording a little earlier than normal. Part of the process is editing the recording. I take out the visiting before the service, remove the section where people come up for Communion, and edit out everything after the closing blessing. Well, I discovered that I ran out of space and the final blessing and song were not recorded. I think about all that I edited out, knowing there should have been plenty of space. I can’t go back and add in more time. I can’t change the recording to what I wish was there rather than the reality of what happened. I only have what is there to work with. What about our spiritual walk? We will only have so much time on earth. When our time ends, we can’t change anything. Scripture says that we die once and then face judgement. What about those things that we did that were foolish and unwise. Nope. We can’t edit that out. We can’t go back and change anything either. No amount of wishing can change our history. That being said, we need to look at what Jesus has done. It is true that we can’t edit anything, but God can. I am guilty of sin and according to God’s word, that condemns me. However, Christ suffered and died so that sin might not reign in us. In other words, our life has been edited through the saving act of Jesus, our Savior. To go from a sinner to saint is the greatest editing ever. Even though we can’t change our past... through Christ, our future doesn’t have to be destructive. Moving forward, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the sacrifice of Christ, I am made into a new creation... a saint longing to go home to be with God. So, our concern should not be if we can change the events of our past, but where we are focused for the future. The past can be erased through God’s forgiveness if we truly repent. If we are trying to be honest with ourselves, we need to figure out what needs to be taken care of today so we have a future. If we can’t do it, what then? Zech 4:6 - “ 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. Father, it is so much easier to justify our actions than it is to humble ourselves before You. Forgive us and fill us with Your Spirit. Amen