Living Out of the Past

For quite a while now I have had this image of a large, square shaped, medium-brown shaded suitcase on a bed. Inside the suitcase are neatly folded clothes which are being taken out by someone. What came to me with this image were the words, ‘living out of the past’.

The clothes in the suitcase simply represented our issues, situations, and circumstances from the past, the suitcase represented our future, and the process of closing the case and carrying it to our destination represented our present.

With this image in mind, I simply have one question for you: What are you carrying in your present from your past that you shouldn’t be?

Sometimes our past (gone by, elapsed in time, having existed in or having occurred during a time previous to the present,) can hinder (to cause delay, interruption, difficulty in) our future. It is important that we go back and deal with our past, and deal with it well, as we cannot afford to take it into our future.

In order to deal with your past you have to understand and know what exactly you are doing. You have to be able to see it and accept it for what it is. Don’t hide from it, but face it. For Christians, this is walking with the Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) and asking Him to help you deal with your past; He is your helper (John 16:7, John 14:26). Otherwise, you might seek out wise counsel; the right counsel, and speak to those who can truly help and show you the right way. Those that can point you in the right direction. The past isn’t something you just hack into with no wisdom. You must be wise and strong.

Professor X helped Wolverine deal with his past

However, what stood out to me the most about the suitcase was the neatly folded clothes. Sometimes our past; our experiences, can be so damaging that rather than dealing with them, we neatly box them (hold onto them and everything associated with them) and carry them in our present; ultimately into our futures. We choose to keep the baggage rather than let it go.

Can you image what it is like to put these clothes (our past) back on?

Can you imagine wearing your past constantly?

What does this look like for you?

We choose to love the pain rather than drain it from our systems. Sometimes it is easier to live with it than deal with it, BUT this isn’t the way forward to living in life. Holding onto the past can be very dangerous. Over a large life-span, rather than living for the future, you are dying for the past.

Make the decision to deal with your past today. Whether it be journalling your emotions, praying, seeking wise counsel from another; begin the process. As hard as it can be, don’t die to your future because of your past. Find the courage to look back and NEVER stay there. Learn from it; never continually grieve (distress mentally, sorrow) in it. Don’t put your past back on.

Come Correct

Like any well oiled machine, we all need maintaining. Regardless of age, religion, culture or race, we seem to have a common issue; CORRECTION.

We live in a society where rebellion, disobedience and lawlessness lives. We don’t always listen, we don’t always follow instruction, we feel we have to have an answer for everything. We don’t like being told what to do, and even shun people who put us on the right path because of this little thing called correction.

Correct means: to set or make true, accurate, or right; remove the errors or faults from, to point out or mark the errors in, to scold, rebuke, or punish in order to improve.

Correction disciplines us (training to act in accordance with rules).

Correction is quite the taboo subject these days. If we are truly honest with ourselves we secretly hate being wrong. That little monster on the inside of us can raise up at the first sign of thinking we know better when we may actually not. That little ounce of pride oozes inside us, which either causes us to run from the truth or take it in order to grow from it.

Correction has two routes in your life dependant upon your attitude (how you think). It will either be your friend and mature you, or you will make it your enemy and eventually self destruct.

A short while back I wrote a post called An Untouchable Nature. It was about having an unbreakable nature, for better or worse.

Correction is the rod that breaks an untouchable nature. Correction re-shapes what can be touched, which is why you must have a teachable spirit/ nature.

You must allow yourself to become pliable. Not only to have the ability to learn or re-learn but to also be able to sustain it, THIS is the growing agent needed for correction to continue throughout your life. You have to be open to being teachable (capable of being instructed).

Responsibility and accountability must be your allies.

Whatever you correct must first be dealt with within yourself.

Matthew 7:3-5: Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

It is so easy to point out another mans fault but the true challenge is to point out your own. I do not mean in terms of self esteem, but in terms of truth.

A man (universal context) will never hear you or take heed of correction from you if he sees the behaviour of that same seed which you are correcting him with, on the inside of you.

You cannot correct what is not corrected inside of yourself first.

Mark 4:24 and Luke 8:18 speak of WATCHING HOW YOU HEAR. If you hear correction and do not take it, you have not heard it but you have listened to it. There is a difference between hearing (to learn by the ear or being told by) and listening (give attention with the ear).

Just because you have heard someone say something it does not mean that you have taken it on board. The difference is the decision we personally make on whether we act or not upon that which we have just heard.

You have to hear what is being said, as to whether you agree or not in truth rather than emotion. This is why you must be teachable as you have to be able to hear what is being said, weigh it up as to whether there is truth in it or not, and then act accordingly mentally, spiritually and physically.

Romans 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

We must change the way we think about correction. To be put right, regardless of how we feel, is actually a good thing. It is better to be blessed for having a good character that has been forged by correction in life, than a character that stinks of pride and rebellion.

Why let pride have its perfect way in you? To be wise (having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion) is far better than a wounded ego.

We are familiar with the phrase YOLO (you only live once). So why not hear, take on board and make positive changes in a world that needs it.

Proverbs 1: 1-7- To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, To receive instruction in wise behaviour, Righteousness, justice and equity; To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Correction makes a person wise because they learn from situations and circumstances.

Hebrews 12:6 and Revelation 3:19 speak of God correcting those he loves. Why should we on earth be any different?

Don’t be afraid or deluded by not wanting to be corrected. You will be gifted by it in the end.

A Sense of Belonging

Take a minute to watch the below clip.

This was one of KFC’s television adverts in 2015. It was broadcasted, simply illustrating a couple who adopt a child. The boy is shy at first but whilst having a family KFC meal, the father pulls out a chair, inviting the boy to the meal (keep this part in mind for me).

We then see a montage of the boy growing up, and when he is older and goes around to his parents for a KFC meal. He sees another adopted child and pulls out the chair, as his dad did for him.

KFC want to denote that KFC meals bring people together; families together. However my personal meaning signified something else.

What I love about this advert is its pure simplicity in reflecting the principle of ‘belonging.’

As humans, whether we admit it or not, we all want to belong to something. We all long to be part of some story where we can be part of an adventure or an unveiling (as discussed in Stasi and John Eldridge’s book Captivating).

For a person to belong, it means for them ‘to be in the relation of a member, adherent,inhabitant, etc.‘ They are invited and accepted into something that they now become part of. Just like the boy in the KFC, we grow when we KNOW that we are part of something.

Back in 2010, whilst at university one of the conclusions in my dissertation was that young people often join gangs because they are offered a ‘family.’ Take gang affiliation out of the equation, how different is the boy in the KFC advert to this? How different are we?

Feelings are just emotions, they are a part of us. Not always true to their origin or always leading us down the right path, but must be taken into consideration and dealt with.

We find ourselves in two positions:

1. Do we know, and not just feel, that we belong to someone or something?
2. Do we pull out the chair for others?

When people don’t fit a certain criteria or crouch to another persons ways, they are segregated from what they believe they are part of. Society calls them ‘misfits.’

We don’t have the right to exclude others regardless of external or internal states. We were all created with one design but different personalities.

The scary thing about this ‘sense of belonging’ is that if it is not found, it can forfeit a person, turning them into a shadow of who they really are.

Unless you KNOW you are part of something, you will squander your purpose.

Let me explain this by going back to the KFC advert. What would of happened if the dad never pulled out the chair for the boy? The answer is simple… everything we saw in the montage afterwards would never have taken place.

As the boy was adopted, those who he was staying with were not his biological parents. Knowing this, the boy did not know how to respond as he came from a different background.

When we become unsure about someone or something, even in the slightest, we internally and externally move.

By simply pulling out the chair, the boy was invited to their home. He was invited to be their son and part of the family. This caused the boy to catapult, later seeing him graduate and have a family of his own.

At some point in life, we must all belong to something. This sense of belonging pushes past being a mere emotion, but forms a strong belief on the inside of a person.

Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we make bad choices, or sometimes life makes choices for us.

Hopefully we won’t become a people who stop or hinder others; even ourselves, from belonging to something.

We may not be the same or sometimes have a lot in common, but when people are part of the same clan with the same vision, there is no question that destiny will connect them and give them this sense of belonging.

Once they know who they are and where they belong, just like the boy in the KFC advert, they will grow and unveil into a mighty person. The person they were created to be.

Deep Desire

Gollum from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit is a fascinating character. His transformation from Smeagol to Gollum through his journey of corruption, deception and covetousness all because of one thing… a ring… a DEEP DESIRE.

Most of us know the journey of Gollum from Lord of the Rings. To summarise this in relation to my blog post; Gollum finds a ring created by the evil dark Lord Sauron which he created to rule over all the other rings of power and ultimately all of Middle Earth. This ring attracts all by causing them to yearn and desire it, the power it holds to rule and live selfishly. This ‘wanting’ is what ultimately led to Gollum’s demise and is something that I want to relate to real life; deep desires.

1. Smeagol

2. Transformation Process

3. Gollum

The Latin word for desire is dēsīderāre which means to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss or regret. Desires are something that all humanity have. As created beings we always need or long for something; whether it be a person, food, drink, money, knowledge, material goods or even power just to consider a few examples; we want something. Dating back to Biblical context even the very first human, Adam, needed something and God gave him Eve (Geneis 2:18-25).

Wanting or needing something is not bad as that is part of life but when you begin to covet, this becomes another issue as you begin to worship that which you eagerly seek.

James 1: 13-15

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (NIV)

To summarise the above Biblical reading it states that God does not tempt us but we are tempted by our own evil desires. Temptation speaks of enticing or alluring to do something often seen as unwise, wrong or immoral (Dictionary.com); and within the scripture is connected to our own personal desires. Let me just add that I am not saying all desires are wrong but those which we know are wrong but to continue to go after are the ones I am referring to. These desires give birth to sin (that which is wrong in God’s eyes) and eventually leads to death. The ring was evil and Gollum was attracted by the evil of the ring as was Eve being attracted to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3); not by might but now by personal interest; now what we call man’s nature. Does this sound familiar to you? Whether you are Christian or not the above Biblical principal stands as we can all relate to wanting things that are not good for us and them leading us down the wrong path in life.

Psalm 42:1

As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after you, O God. (KJV)

I think we can relate to this within a broader context. As a dear thirsts for water, the psalmists soul pants to God. In our world this speaks to our desires going deeper than we think but actually our SOUL wanting these things. To pant is to breathe hard and quickly, to gasp for air or to long something with breathless or intense eagerness; yearn (Dictionary.com). When you want something and are enticed by it enough, you will go after it at any cost. The desire has been fed and the slavery has begun… the habitual habit has formed. It becomes something you worship. Dan Blythe from Hillsong church ministered a message a while ago about worship and taught on what worship was. However in the message he spoke about addictions and how we do not have addictions but we have a worship problem. When we continually desire after something that is wrong we enter into coveting after it and that now is something we worship as it is all we want; which is what you can see happened to Gollum.

Romans 5:12-21 talks about the differences between Adam and Christ in nature and act. When Adam and Eve sinned against God (did wrong in Gods eyes- Genesis 3) then every other human being did by default, sin became human nature and something we were born into (Psalm 51:5) but Christ was the opposite. Isn’t it interesting that Eve was the first to experience covetousness…

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6 KJV

Believe me my friend you are not the first or the only person in the world to have desired something which you know is wrong. Eve desired to know more eve when she was told not to eat of this particular tree in the garden, the mythical beings from Lord of the Rings desired the power of the ring to rule man and do as they pleased, even Paul felt the battle between wanting to do right whilst still yearning to do that which he knew was wrong.

Romans 7:14-20

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^c For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (NIV)

Simply take a look at humanity today; we desire what feeds us, what feeds our souls whether right or wrong. Craving and yearning for something so much that it nearly destroys you mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually. Have you ever just needed to get that quick fix again; to have what you once had, never had or what someone else has because of that yearning and deep attraction pull inside your inner self? This is exactly what happened to Gollum. Even though the ring attracts life, Gollum moved into the state of coveting after the ring as it now became the very thing he wanted at no cost. He deceived Frodo and Sam, almost killing them in order to have the ring to himself. To covet is to wrongfully desire something with no regard to others or eagerly wish for something- Dictionary.com (notice this is different to hope as it causes you to take action into your own hands in an incorrect manner). It is a selfish act of obtaining ones own desire.

Luke 12:34

Your heart will be where your treasure is. (God’s Word Translation)

Desires are connected to our minds and hearts. As they are things we want they connect, react and pull on what is already in us. Emotions follow these and the thought, life and energy we give to them in our hearts and minds determine the impact of the impulses we act on. For instance once Gollum had the ring he wanted it so much that he did all he could to get it, even murder. When a drug abuser has had that all time high they want it again and again and again. When someone loves sex they want it more and more and more. Your appetite for what you desire has to be fed regardless of the consequences, the habit must meet the desire.

Romans 8:12-14

So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! (MSG version)

You don’t have to do what you want to do. You have a choice to not do what you want to do but it takes a lot of will power to not do so. However when you have become a slave to a habit then the breaking away from it is not so easy. We turn to what we think will help break these habits; prayer, counsellors, rehab groups but when we keep failing to break away from giving into these evil desires we can fall into giving into them and no longer fighting their sting.

Romans 1:28

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. (NIV)

When we give up the battle and power to fight against what is wrong, we can make the mistake of giving into it; surrendering to it. If you are a Christian then we are to acknowledge God and invite him into the situation. For those who do not follow Christianity then this principle still applies; not necessarily by inviting God in depending on what you believe but there is that need to share or tell someone so you can get help. When you feel defeated or give up on fighting against the wrong desire then you will eventually give into it, as so for Christians when God will give them over unto their own evil desires.

I am not saying that you must convert to Christianity but what I am saying is that deeply re-think about what you have become accustomed to worshipping. What habits have enslaved you because of being enticed time and time again to your wrongful desires. Pastor Michael from New Nation Destiny Centre  shared a brief word about not feeding the wrong seed, feeding the wrong thing. To summarise it was about making sure we feed what is right and not what is wrong. When the church was in trouble Paul would always use the word ‘urge’ as an expression of his love and yearning for the people to re-consider and change their ways before it was too late. Seek good advice, counsel and even turn to prayer as prayer is not just for a select nation on getting out of your worship problem.

Desires are not wrong but when you become enticed by the wrong desires and covet after them you will eventually die; whether this be physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally. T.D Jakes used the expression “spiritually rejuvenated but emotionally handicapped”. Don’t think you can control something when you are enslaved to it, recognise it has a hold over you and turn to the right source in order to deal with it and break its hold over you. Don’t allow your evil desires to run untamed, control you and cause death. Learn from Frodo and fight against the wrong desire with the help of others rather than give into it and have no one like Gollum. Let Gollum be a reality of what your future will be if you do not control the wrong deep desires within you.

Also read: The Analogy of the Ring, a great blog post via The Analogous Truth which I found in relation to Gollum and addictions.