Does Your Past Perception Affect Your Current Faith?

So often we go to counseling to help us unravel our past to reveal the things that might have had a negative impact on our lives and therefore cause us to respond to people or behave in some negative way. There is a lot of good that can come from counselors who are gifted in discerning and unraveling past issues and encounters, but have you ever heard of a person going to a counselor and asking the question of why they behave well and make good sound decisions? I’ve been counseling people for nearly 40 years now and in all that time not one person has asked that question.

My reason for asking this odd thing is that there are some people who seem to be at the right place doing the right thing and most people call this luck or chance when, in fact, I think some who encounter such opportunity are in those favored places because of choices they made in the past, often without knowing they were making such choices. As a Christian, it always bothers me when believers use the word ‘luck’ or ‘chance’ to describe the favor of God. These “Lucky” people might be in the right place or time because they were moved by the scripture they learned and fashioned their lives around. At the appropriate time, the Holy Spirit moved them to respond to a given situation and they reap the benefit of a pattern of life God has always intended for every believer.

I want to use the back drop of a story in the gospel of Mark to illustrate this belief.

Mark 16:1-2 

The day after the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early on that day, the first day of the week, soon after sunrise, the women were on their way to the tomb. 

If we are to take an action out of “Sherlock Holmes“ and his play book we would try to uncover the why and wherefore of every action and item in the story to come to the final conclusion of why these women were so blessed to see the empty tomb first and angels who assisted. This is not to mention the most important thing of be the first to see Jesus alive. After all the time Jesus spent with these 11 apostles, and the secrets of the kingdom of God that were given them one would think they would be the first to encounter Jesus. Think of the power and the authority to do miracles. Instead, Mary Magdalene, in particular, had the special opportunity and privilege.

Now the story of the resurrection of Jesus seemed to start out rather ordinary and mundane unless we look closer and try to unravel the detail.

These women came to honor the memory of Jesus even though he was no longer in the body. They were compelled to show respect. Funny, we seem to have a difficulty showing respect to people who are important to us while they are alive let alone when they are dead. We could conclude that they were just being good Jewish women, but the Jewish elders had put Jesus to death and now were looking for his close friends and disciples. This is why they were hiding together and afraid to go out in public. Yet these 4 women, Mary his mother being one of them, came to love the vehicle of the presence of Jesus.

We often assume people have the same type of “love” when they get married, yet we often discover years later, the quality of love each person and each couple has is often very different.”Time” reveals the quality and not the words at the wedding. For these 4 women, there seems to be a different level of love and respect that moves them along to choose the dangerous path of traveling to the tomb when their lives were in jeopardy. Remember, the resurrection had not happened as of yet and therefore they did not know or understand that Jesus would raise from the dead. Their “faith” was not in some expected benefit or reward but in expressing love no matter the cost.

Mark 16:6-7 

But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who has been crucified. He has risen from the dead; He is not here. Look, here is the place they laid Him. Now go and tell his followers and Peter, ‘Jesus is going into Galilee ahead of you, and you will see him there as he told you before.’ ”

Now all the women didn’t start doubting what they had just experienced rather they took the new of Jesus rising from the dead, no matter how extraordinary, as truth. The apostles refused to believe their story even though these women had never lied to them before. Why is that? Could it be that their love for Jesus was deeper than Christ closest man friends? It sure seems that way. They believed God could do anything, even raise the dead … just like Jesus had done with Lazarus.

Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus alive, before anyone including Mary the mother of Jesus. Remember that Jesus natural brothers and sisters didn’t believe in him until after the resurrection. Mary Magdalene was different. Quite possibly because she was delivered from so much. Luke 8:2 says she had seven demons cast out of her. What was that bondage like? What was it like to experience freedom? All we know is from that time on she and other women like her followed Jesus and supported His ministry out of their wealth. There is an important passage that I want to finish with that to me reveals how and why some believers stand out.

Luke 7:40 

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 

“A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 

 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 

“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 

All to often, at the time of becoming a believer, we fail to realize the magnitude of our sin and the magnitude of God’s mercy in offering first forgiveness and second becoming adopted in to god’s family as a full-fledged child of God. Mary Magdalene felt forgiven much …. I believe more than the 11 apostles. Yes they loved Jesus also, but not like Mary and that makes all the difference in the world when it comes to expressing that gratitude and respect when the time had come.

Questions:

1) How much of a “Sinner” did you feel you were before giving you life to Jesus and how worthy of separation from a loving God for eternity did you deserve ? It makes all the difference and only the Holy Spirit can give you that revelation.

2) David asked God to show him his heart and to see if there was any wicked way in him in Psalms 26:2. Maybe the best thing to do is ask God for a “New” revelation of the magnitude of his forgiveness so you will be filled with great gratitude and great faith for the future.

I am grateful for the magnitude of his mercy for my soul…how about you?

Pastor Dale