WHAT WILL DEFINE YOU?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”––2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV

On May 27th, 2019, former Boston Red Sox star first baseman Bill Buckner died. Many people are remembered for their incredible athletic ability in sports. Others, although incredible athletes have been remembered for the mistakes they committed. Bill Buckner was one of these men. In the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets, Boston was only one strike away from winning the series when a ball hit by Mookie Wilson went down the first baseline. Buckner misplayed the ground ball, and it rolled through his legs and into history. They lost that game 6-5. The sad part is that they blew a three-run lead in game seven to lose the series. That never gets mentioned, but Buckner’s play in game six does.

Others were remembered for their mistakes, such as Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 25. Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal that would’ve given Buffalo its first Super Bowl victory. Norwood had a career record with Buffalo of 133 field goals in 184 attempts in seven years. Despite that, no one remembers that the eleven players on offense hadn’t been able to do their job successfully, or Norwood wouldn’t have been in that position.

In 1964, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall recovered a fumble and ran 66 yards the wrong way, thinking he had scored a touchdown. A player in the 1929 Rose Bowl also made this same mistake. Referees have made mistakes tainting their careers because they resulted in unjustified losses—everything from lousy coin tosses and calls. Even NASCAR races have been lost by mistakes like speeding down pit row when leading the race, miscalculating fuel mileage, and running out of gas on the last lap. The story's moral is that nobody is exempt from making mistakes, regardless of how skilled they are in their endeavors.

One example is David in 2 Samuel 11 and his affair with Bathsheba, resulting in her becoming pregnant. David also conspired and had her husband murdered in battle to cover up his sin. In Genesis, Abraham got ahead of God’s plan and had a child with Hagar. In Matthew 26, Peter denied Christ three times, even to the point of cursing.

Recapping their lives:

·      David went on to become the most renowned king in Israel's history. In Acts 13, David is referred to as a man who pursued God’s heart.

·      James 2:23 indicates that God continued to regard Abraham as a friend even though he acted ahead of God.

·      Following the crucifixion, Peter was the primary preacher on the day of Pentecost, leading to the salvation of 3000 souls.

Despite their numerous achievements, these individuals are often remembered for their grave mistakes.

When we receive Christ, God doesn’t see a former sinner. He doesn’t judge or define us by our past and the many mistakes we made. He doesn’t see us in the light of who we once were. He sees us as redeemed, a new creation made whole (2 Corinthians 5:17). If God doesn’t use our past against us, we should never define others or ourselves by past mistakes.

None of us are perfect—we have made and will make mistakes. The question is not how badly we’ve messed up but how much we’ve tried to make up for it. All three men—David, Abraham, and Peter—were fiercely devoted to God before their mistakes and even more so afterward.

When you leave this world, will you be defined by your mistakes or your love and service to the Lord despite them?

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Prayer: Dear Lord, please guide me to live in a way that reflects the transformation I have experienced through my relationship with you. Help me to exhibit love, kindness, and compassion in all my interactions and to demonstrate the values of faith, hope, and forgiveness. May my actions and words reflect the new creation that I am in you. Amen.

Your turn: Have you ever found yourself consumed by feelings of shame about your past? Do you catch yourself unfairly judging others based on their past actions or mistakes? Reflect on how you can transform this mindset and foster a more empathetic and understanding approach towards yourself and others.