https://odb.org/2026/01/09/the-future-gods-preparing
Isaiah 43:16–21 (NIV): 16 This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
This idea of “scrubbing” the past echoes the prophet’s words in Isaiah 43:18-19. God said, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.” These verses were spoken to Israel during their exile in Babylon—a period of deep despair and longing for restoration. God commanded His people to not fixate on their past failures or the pain of captivity but to look forward to the new work He was about to do—a new and more significant exodus—their deliverance from Babylon and return to their homeland. He wasn’t just erasing the past but “making a way” (v. 19) to a future filled with hope and purpose. (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread 9th January 2026)
The past holds different connotations for different people. Some of us may be basking in the glory of our past achievements. A few of us may have been top students in our respective schools and colleges but soon realised that the real world is a vastly different kettle of fish. We could have found romance and love but sadly things did not work out and our dream of growing old together were shattered and broken into pieces. In retrospect, we wished we would have approached certain things differently or related to some people with more vigour or showed compassion and love instead of anger or hatred. Our past may be filled with regret and disappointment, but also coupled with joy and happiness.
Whatever the past may be, I take the view that it’s a fallacy that it may be erased. It is what it is. It cannot be scrubbed. If we had failed, we had failed. If we had fallen short, we had fallen short. We can’t sugar-coat our past. God however forgives us our past sins and transgressions. He knows it as He knows all things. But He doesn’t bring it up or reminds us of it. To our Lord Jesus Christ, our past remains in the past. He has redeemed us of our sins. As proclaimed in Isaiah, He is doing a new thing! God is giving us a future in Him. A new beginning, not to compensate or substitute our past, but a fresh start. A new road to walk on as the Chinese say.
As we close the week and enter the weekend to celebrate God’s goodness and worship Him with the congregation, let’s just let our past remain there and let us look to the future we have in Him whatever may be our age. Forget our past and dwell in the present and the future the LORD our God has for us in Christ Jesus! Israel returned from exile after Babylon was overrun by the Persians. Jerusalem was rebuilt and over the ages, Israel is now a thriving nation although it is always at war. Look at our future in Christ, He will restore to us what the locusts have devoured! His plans for us are to prosper us, to give us a new beginning, a fresh start in Him. Have a good weekend, everyone!
Ronnie's Thoughts 