One of my favorite movies is “Good Will Hunting.” It came out when I was in college. I had already declared my major in mathematics, so this movie was extra interesting to me because of the math portrayed. The movie is about a young man with an abusive childhood. He is a janitor at M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He is also a genius, secretly solving math problems in the halls of M.I.T. This troubled genius is discovered by a brilliant math professor. The professor sets him up to meet with a psychotherapist, which Will must do to stay out of jail. Although solving difficult math problems is part of this movie, it is more about Will coming to terms with his childhood traumas and moving beyond that so that he can love and be loved. He has the potential to do more with his life than just be. The past does not have to define his future.
The same is true for any of us. Yes, our past experiences and decisions shape our lives now. What we have done or what has happened to us cannot be changed. What we choose to do now is what we can change. Jesus died for all of us. All of us are unworthy of His sacrifice. There is no one here that is perfect. Our sins put Jesus on the cross. Jesus said “It is finished.” He rose from the grave three days later. We have to decide if we believe that Jesus is our Redeemer, our Savior, God’s only Son. We have to each decide if we are going to follow Him, love Him, and do what He commands. Or we can continue to live in our sin, live foolishly, deny the holy power of God.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
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