Your Past Does Not Determine Your Future (Matthew 1:5)

Your past does not determine your future.  Your past may strongly influence you as you decide your future, but it cannot determine it.  As you read the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew chapter one, you will come across Boaz.  This is the same Boaz that redeemed and married Ruth.  His family background was as bad as it could be.  Boaz's mother was the harlot that hid the Israelite spies in Jericho.  Can you imagine what life was like for Boaz as a young boy: the names that he was called and the shame he endured as he faced peers and the self righteous society?

In spite of it all, Boaz became somebody great and so did his mother.  Both are listed in the genealogies and are responsible for passing on their heritage to the Messiah.  Their lives are prime examples of what God and his grace can do.

We must remember that our past does not determine our future either.  Our families' good testimony cannot make us successful and it's failures cannot hold us back from success.  Even the failures in our past cannot hinder us from experiencing success.  Maybe you have made some very poor decisions and now your life's testimony is anything but desirable.  Remember, God's grace was given to buy you out of sin and to empower you for victory over it.  Your past cannot be changed, but God's grace can change your future.

As you face the shame of your past, remember the following.

1. Your past is in the past.  

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

2. What you were does not determine what you are or what you will be. 

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:11-12)

3. God's power changes lives and reputations

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20)