----BURY THE PAST ~~

--"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
---[Philippians 3:13-14]

--It was time for the eggs in the incubator to hatch. But out of the twelve eggs, only one actually hatched. I dug a hole in the garden and disposed of all the rotten and smelly eggs, covering them with the soil and smooth the surface. Who would guess what is under the ground? Our collie dog Buddy was watching every move. He knew what was buried and wanted to get it. He soon dug out the smelly stuff and indulged in it as dogs like to do. The eggshells were scattered ang the buried filth was exposed.

When we confess our sins and receive Christ as our Savior, our sins are completely taken away. In fact, God has promised to cast al our sins "into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19). "now, and let us reason together saith the LORD though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:8).

Like the dog, however, the devil wants to come along and dig up our smelly past. displaying it for all to see. We ourselves can dig up unsavory memories, either to agonize over past sins or to tell stories of our mischief for entertainment. It is good to remember Romans 6:21: "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death."

When we counsel troubled souls, they may need to uncover some things of the past so the heart can heal. But then they must reach forth and "press toward the mark" as today's key verse says. (Romans 6).

--BSW/HZ