Not Hear to Talk About the Past

Mark McGwire, known by most for his colossal home runs, was made even more famous by his infamous words "I'm not hear to talk about the past" when he appeared before Congress in 2005 to discuss the steroid issue of baseball. While it was not until recently that he came clean and confessed his history of cheating, his lack of disclosure in 2005 left little to be wondered. I was reminded of those words in a way different context today. In Bible class this week we have been watching "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." I thought it would be a good visual for the theological concept of "propitiation" that we have been discussing recently. C.S. Lewis does a masterful job of showing the satisfaction and appeasement of the wrath that one person (Edmund) deserved through the sacrifice of another (the great Aslan). There was a great line though that Aslan mentions before these events transpire that brought me such encouragement and hope for the future judgment that awaits us one day. In the movie there has definitely been frustration, worry and anger experienced by the other three siblings due to the decisions that Edmund has made. Once he is reunited with the "good guys" there is a scene with Edmund and Aslan having a pretty important discussion. One is led to believe that repentance, forgiveness and restoration is taking place through the encounter. It's the words after this discussion that really lifted me today. Aslan returns with Edmund to present him back to his siblings and makes an emphatic statement. He says, "What's done is done. There is no need to speak with Edmund of what has past." What a wonderful reminder of God's view of our sin after salvation. We have been washed, we have been sanctified, we have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (I Cor. 6:11) Our sins have been dealt with and forgiven, the wrath and ransom price required for our souls has been satisfied and paid in full! There is no need to speak with me about the past! My past has been emphatically dealt with at the cross. It also serves as a reminder that when someone else's sin has been dealt with at the cross it is not our job to then assume the position of judge. I'm sure Edmund's siblings may have jumped at the chance to remind him of how wrong he had been. And while Edmund's treachery had affected them, his betrayal was ultimately towards Aslan. If Aslan had forgiven and restored, it went without discussion that Edmund's siblings should do the same. Let us all be encouraged that there is no reason to speak about the past. What's done is done. Thank God "it is finished"!