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How Does God View Our Past? (part 2)

In part one, we talked about being haunted by the past and how God’s grace frees us. Remember, we’re no longer looking back at our past mistakes, but in God’s forgiveness racing forward toward God’s calling.

As it turns out, we’re not allowed to judge fellow Christians by their past either. So often, we look at other Christians’ sins or mistakes and make judgment calls about their lives. But here’s the deal: the miracle of God’s grace covers them just like it covers you.

It is true that not all sins are equal, only that we’re all equally guilty before God. We are all equally in need of his grace. Under this grace, each of us is equally forgiven. None of us should boast because we experienced God’s forgiveness sooner than another friend or stranger.

In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard. The owner of this vineyard went out early in the morning and hired some workers for the day. About mid-morning, he went out again and hired more workers, offering them the same wage for their work. This happened throughout the rest of the day. The guy even hired workers at five in the evening, paying them full wages… just before quitting time!

The workers who had started in the morning complained to the owner that night as they were receiving their wages. “Why should those people who worked only an hour be paid the same as us?” The owner looked at them and said, “I’m not being unjust. You agreed to work for this wage. So what if I decide to pay other workers the same amount? It’s my money. Why are you jealous because I’m being good to all my workers?”

The parable can be interpreted this way: each of us is laboring in God’s field, so-to-speak… living our lives according to his will and under his grace. We can’t complain when God gives the same grace to others, even if they join us long after we “started.” God’s grace is his to give. Thank goodness we’re not in charge of it!

Instead of defining others by their pasts, let’s instead look at their present. Each of us can help one another move forward toward the great things God has for them—just as he has it for us too! Let’s run this race together.