There are many people who cling to memories of past sins, holding on to guilt and shame, reliving things long ago confessed, as though they happened yesterday. They struggle with regrets, often revisiting shame as though they were archeologists, digging for historical artifacts that must be preserved.
Such is not the case with God, for His interest is not in our past, but in our future. Confessed sins are counted as nothing, for God looks with interest on the transformed heart that has been made anew, with contrition. God looks to our future, for His loving mercy is upon the man who has confessed his sin, and that sin is counted as nothing. God is interested in what we are doing with our future, and as a loving Father takes pleasure in the steps we take in our journey towards Him.
For us to look back is to reject the very role of confession, for if we cling to past regrets, we are rejecting the very meaning of repentance, which means a change of heart and taking a direction that is all about the future.
Transformation is not something that happens in an instant, but is a journey towards holiness. As long as we look to the future with hope, transformation of the heart continues, and our past becomes but a fading memory. We must live a life of repentance, not regret.
God comes into our lives at our invitation. When we open the gates of our heart from the inside, God responds. The Lord does not force entrance into our heart, but comes when He is invited in. The moment we repent of our sin, and surrender ourselves over to God, He enters in ways we never dreamed possible.
