My "Ah-Ha" Moment!!

So, I had a major "ah-ha" moment at church yesterday that I really want to share!

In Sunday school, we started a new book study using the book, "The Prodigal God." It takes a really close look at The Parable of The Lost Son. All we have looked at so far is the video made by the author of the book that introduces the book and its main points. But, the main gist of it is that Jesus wans't only talking about the younger son (who was disobedient and left home) as being lost. He was also talking about the older son being lost as well, because his motivation for being obedient was all wrong. He was using the example to minister to both the sinners and the Pharisees who were listening to him. Everyone needs God's grace and forgiveness just as much as the next person does, and no one is entitled to sit at God's table just because they've done a list of good things here on Earth.

That video led to a very good discussion about several different points, but one in particular really struck me...the part about forgiveness. See, I've really been struggling lately with being able to forgive myself for some really stupid stuff I did when I was younger. (Let's just suffice it to say that high school and college were NOT the brightest points of my life!) And, I think I have also been struggling with truly believing that God could actually forgive me for everything I've done. Matt and I were actually talking about this exact thing when we went to dinner on Valentine's Day, and he made a comment to me that really made me mad at the time. He said, "Steph, if you feel that way, then you haven't truly accepted God's grace yet." Boy, I didn't like that at all! And I thought, "Are you crazy? Of course I have! You don't know what you're talking about!" But, I just finished my dinner pretty much in silence until we went home.

He really got me thinking though. I had been thinking about it all week...until yesterday...when we just happened to be talking about forgiveness in Sunday school. But, my "ah-ha" moment didn't come until after the class was officially over, when Matt and I were continuing the discussion with one of the men in our class. He made a comment that went straight to my heart and soul. He said that once you accept Christ as your Savior and ask God to forgive your sins, you are forgiven, you are saved by His grace, and the person you used to be is gone. You are a completely new person in Him.

This was such a revelation to me! All along I have been beating myself up over things that I did years ago...but, I am not that same person today! I do not need to carry around the guilt for things that another person (one who was extremely lost and not walking with God) did in her blindness and stupidity. The minute I asked Him to forgive those sins and make me His child once again, He did. So...I don't have to forgive myself for the things I did earlier in my life, because that was not the same life I am living now! I guess I've always heard the term "born again," but I finally really understand and embrace the reality of what God's grace does when you are born again!

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. ~Luke 15:24