A life filled with selfishness, pride and fruitless ambition
As we approach the Christmas season, one of the famous movies on television is “A Christmas Carol”, which features Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past, present and future. Let me attempt to add a real-life spin and principle to the historical movie idea and talk about what God is showing me. Where would you categorize your thoughts on a daily basis, PAST, PRESENT or FUTURE? I will quickly touch on the past, but would like to spend a majority of the posting on the present/future. Let me also say, that just as Scrooge had an opportunity to redeem himself, at the end of the movie, with a new found Christmas spirit, it is not to late for you or I to redeem ourselves through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
PAST: We have all heard or maybe even know someone who continues to live in the past. I believe we all have times in our lives which continue to affect the way we think, our view of our self-worth and the way we interact with others around us because of our past. 
However, some people seem to have a problem moving on because of past hurts, failures or experiences. I am convinced that Satan uses the past of individuals to keep them from growing, thriving or even experiencing God. There is no doubt that the Evil One, will use whatever tools necessary to convince people that they are failures, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not athletic enough, just not good enough, or a second class citizens because of a broken past or poor choices. What a lie! For those who have a personal relationship with Jesus, the bible says in 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18…
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
I am not saying you forget about the past, however you do not live in the past and let it hold you back or dictate the way life works today.
PRESENT/FUTURE: I would like to take a different approach to this and look at those who make the same mistake and live for the future. I believe Satan uses this same distraction, of living in the future, to stop people from experiencing God, or enjoying right where they are today. The reason I wrote this blog, was I believe this is an area God has been revealing to me that Satan has used to distract my attention and focus on Him. It’s funny how I can write something for others to read, yet not take the advice myself. I touched on this in a different way in a post years ago about “Preparation, Vital to Opportunity”. In that blog I said, “We sometimes can be so obsessed with where else we “want” to be, that we miss the preparation God has for us today.”
The mistake I believe I have fallen into is my thoughts, decisions and attitude all are around where I want to be in the future. My sub-conscientious and sometimes conscience thoughts are…How can the decisions I make today, get me where I want to go tomorrow. Notice the main focus of the previous sentence is “WHERE I WANT TO GO”. Guess what? If I am truly trusting in God’s sovereignty and truly believe He has my best interest at heart, then the decisions I make today are far less impacting or important than I have made them out to be. Jeremiah 10:23 says…
I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps
Proverbs 16:9 says…
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps
I am not one of those who think you should put your head in the sand and God will work everything out. I do believe we have a responsibility to act prudently and with intelligence with the information God has chosen to reveal to us at the current time. Where it becomes dangerous is when I take that information, and now I try to throw my own twist on it to manipulate the situation to get to where Ron wants to be, instead of waiting to see where God wants me to be. This aspect reveals an area of my character that still overflows with selfishness, pride and fruitless ambition. Probably why God chose to reveal it to me.
Another danger of this is when I am focused looking ahead and manipulating the situation, I am not conscientious of today, the PRESENT, and where God is at work around me. God is always at work within us and around us, if we take the time to stop and listen for His voice. You see Satan can distract us with focusing on the future so much that we neglect the PRESENT. Matthew 6: 33-34 says…
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Following biblical principles, I should be spending a majority of my time in the present, not worrying or trying to manipulate the future outcome. I encourage you, as I am learning, to be more conscientious of the PRESENT and focus on what God wants you to be doing today, not tomorrow. If we are obedient to what He has for us today, He will be faithful with our future tomorrow.
“Learn from the past, look to the future, but live in the present.” -Petra Nemcova
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