https://odb.org/2024/01/16/learning-from-mistakes-2
Paul used the mistakes of ancient Israelites to remind the Corinthians not to make the same mistakes (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). Likewise, we should look at our past mistakes and experiences as a guide and warning to us not to repeat them again. If not, there could be dire consequences.
As an example, I changed jobs in mid-2022 after 27 years at my previous organisation. Due to a change in work location, we moved down to the city to stay in an apartment we bought 10 years ago. Previously, I used to travel daily between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban, clocking not less than 500 km a week. Nowadays, my office is only 6 km away and takes me 15 mins to get to even during rush hour traffic. But a byproduct consequence of this change is that I have exercised much less nowadays when I used to do daily half-hour walks in my gated neighbourhood. My current condo is located in a full maxed-out concrete jungle. So walking around will be among buildings and traffic fumes. However, yesterday, I made a breakthrough. I went to the gym for the first time and walked non-stop with incline for 35 minutes, covering more than 3.5km. I’m looking forward to doing this daily as the experience turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant, windy, and airy with the windows at the gym partially opened. I was thinking to myself, why didn’t I do this since June 2022?
But we learn from our mistakes and move forward. There are consequences, but we move forward. We learn from our past mistakes and indiscretions and move on. The Bible gives us many examples of Israel not heeding God’s Word and breaking its covenant relationship with God, their kings marrying pagan queens, and bringing their idol worship practices into Israel. As a result, Judah was overrun by the Assyrians and the Babylonians and the Temple destroyed and her people taken into exile. In the book of Acts, we have Ananias and Saphira, whose attempt at deception led to their deaths by divine retribution (see Acts 5:1-11).
It is true that God brings us through certain life experiences to teach us some lessons in life. At the same time, He exposes us to the experiences of Israel and the believers in Christ so that we will not repeat the same mistakes in our own lives. Lessons must be learned, and warnings heeded so that Jesus’s teachings for us are not in vain. If I do not start exercising and control my diet, my health will deteriorate, I would need to deal with more issues as I age. If I do not learn from my past mistakes in my spiritual life, one day, I may drift so far away that I may be too comfortable living without God and may end up forgoing my salvation. Learn from our past mistakes and move on. Don’t repeat them and start all over, again and again!
Ronnie's Thoughts 