Its Time to Move!

Knock Knock 

I love a good story that makes me contemplate life. In Glasglow, Scotland a man went out for a few drinks with his friends. After a great night he called a taxi to transport him to his parent’s home. The man walked in the front door, grabbed a drink from the refrigerator then fell asleep on the couch. A few minutes later one of the homeowners found the unknown man on the couch and were frantic. The man had in fact gone to his parent’s house, however in the two years since he had seen or spoken to them – his parents had moved. Ultimately the woman called her husband who transported the barely coherent man to a local supermarket after posting the drunken man’s picture on Facebook. Luckily someone recognized their drunken friend from the post and retrieved him.

This is an absolutely crazy story that is very accurate for many people.

Keep following me.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11(NLT)

“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

How does this all relate?

We all have a past that others want to remain present.

After two years of distance and silence the man in our story, motivated by circumstance, returned to what was familiar. Yet, the inhabitants of his familiar way of living no longer lived there.

You can’t answer your old door while living at your new address. 

Just because you have actually moved on doesn’t necessarily mean your friends, exes, and even your habits received the memo or chose to read it.

When is it time to move on?

1.   You stopped growing or learning. 

Every day gives way for new experiences and learning opportunities. If you aren’t motivated to get better you need to get motivated to get moving. Seek to be in a job, relationship, friendship, or way of living that challenges you to grow. Does being there make you better? Does knowing them push you to learn? If you are coasting you will eventually run out of wind. Growth takes work and effort. 

2.   Your new goals don’t allow time/opportunity for your old ways

The bible teaches that you can’t put new wine in old wine skins (Luke 5:37). The old skins cannot handle the potency of the new wine. Your goals should cause you to evaluate what you do to get there. It is challenging wanting to save money and wanting the daily convenience of fast food or the latest gadgets. Something has to change. 

3.   There are no more options

There was a time I was ready to move on and someone dear to me asked a life-changing question, “Have you done everything to make it work?” If you haven’t super glued, counseled, waited, prayed, tried, brought in an expert, stood on one foot while holding your hand in the air – keep trying your options. If you can wholeheartedly admit that you gave your all and it still doesn’t work, take the green light and go. 

How do we move on?

“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6: 11)

Recognize, remember, and put this in your notes – EVERYONE HAS A PAST! And that’s where it should stay.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter with the understanding that its listeners had a past yet he affirmed their positive future. The crazy part is that he also knew that everyone wouldn’t catch it. There are people that will hold on to negativity in the presence of positive possibilities.  Be someone that believe in the change maker and have the boldness to move.

Three tips to help you move on.

1.   Allow your future to overshadow your past. 

The glow of your future should out shine the glimmer of your past. One light will wash out the other. 

Scripture says you were cleansed. There is a difference between bathing and showering. When you clean up in moving water – the dirt can’t stay with you. 

God doesn’t want to just wash your past off of you – He wants to wash it away. 

2.   Instead of reliving it – release it!

When you choose to take responsibility for your feelings and not give authority to others - you will move. Many of us want our offenders to acknowledge that they have mistreated us. What if they don’t? You don’t need their permission to pack your stuff. Constantly reviewing what hurt you will never heal you. Ever.  

Choose to let go even if they don’t.

1 Corinthians 6:11 is proof that through God you were made holy. That means you were set apart. God has pulled you away so that you won’t have to go running back.

Here’s a fun thought. Use caution when imploring others in your packing and moving process. Some people just want to go through your stuff and others will cause more damage than help. Simply put – pack with care and consult a professional for best results. 

3.    Find your right now joy and learn to be good.

Live in the present. When you dominate your mental space with what is best for you now, there is no room to worry about what happened then. Find what you lost when you believed your joy hinged on someone or something else. Be good. Maybe it’s a southern thing, but when we say, “I’m good” – it has a bunch of meanings. But, in the end it means I’m ok in my own space. Say it with me, “I’m good.”

If you struggle to block someone or certain groups on social media, block yourself! Delete the app and learn to love you again without checking to see if they care. Take a social media sabbatical. Delete. Breathe. Move.

Then, as a way to complete the moving process, forgive. Forgive what they did but you don’t have to forget. Your forgiveness does not require restoring the relationship….

The final part of 1 Corinthians 6:11 says that you were made right or justified. Similar to the classic animated movie The Lion King, it means you have been marked. God marked you as one of His own and placed His signature on your heart’s stitches. Speaking the name of Jesus allowed the Spirit of God to do His work removing your past, restoring your heart, and establishing His relationship with you. God knows about your past and He sees your great big wonderful Future. There is new place prepared for you – move on.

My 6-year-old son loves to tell jokes and I love to hear extra corny jokes! His favorite goes like this:

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Banana.

Banana who?

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Banana.

Banana who?

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Banana.

Banana who?

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana!

Maybe someone or something has kept coming back to you and knocking because you gave the anticipated results. You consistently answered, open the door, or gave what they expected. It is my prayer that right now God speaks to you and pushes you to stop falling for the banana and when that old thing comes knocking again – orange you glad you won’t be available.  

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