God Transforms your Past

 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Is 54:4 NIV

God remembers everything in your life, the good, the bad and the ugly.
But doesn't the Bible say that God forgets your sins when he forgives you?

God chooses not to consider your forgiven sin as sin. But God keeps a record of everything in your history for a different purpose.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Ro 8:28 NIV

God keeps a record of your whole life to heal the wounds in your soul.

Better yet, God uses the wrong and traumatic experiences in your life to bless you and others.

When Moses died, Joshua took over the leadership of Israel.
Before the Israelites miraculously crossed the Jordan, Joshua sent spies to Jericho.

They narrowly escaped capture when they fled to a brothel. The prostitute Rahab protected them because she believed in the God of Israel.

When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab's house was preserved and she was welcomed in Israel as a convert to the true God.

She became the grandmother of King David's grandfather.
Rahab is one of only four women listed in Jesus' family tree in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus said to the self-righteous Jewish religious leaders:

... “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. Mt 21:31 NIV

How many prostitutes have been encouraged by the story of Rahab to respond to God's love?

God uses the records of our past lives to bless us and others.

I once heard a very interesting preacher. He told the story of a church made up mostly of converted former prostitutes. They were wonderful street evangelists.

    As prostitutes, they had pursued men with shameless boldness. God used that same shameless boldness to make them marvellous evangelists.

God forgets the sinfulness of your sin, but He uses your sinful past to bring about amazing miracles.