Let Go of the Baggage!

Many years back I was involved in a summer mission’s building project in Santiago, Chile. As a member of the team, we were allowed to take a military-style duffel bag containing all our clothing and a sleeping bag. We were then given an additional carry-on that contained food supplies for the team while we there. I can remember the difficulty of making it through airport after airport transporting these heavy bags and then making it out to our site once we arrived. By the time we finally made it to our destination almost 24 hours later, we were all worn out.

As I think back to that time and then I consider the ongoing difficulties we have in life, I can draw out some comparisons. I remember how tough it was getting through the security of several different countries with all that baggage. I remember the hard time we were given by the security forces at an airport in Bolivia where we had to change planes. They were determined to make life even more difficult for us hoping somehow to get us to pay them off.

As I think about all this, I think about how Satan does much the same thing to us. He loads us down with the baggage of our past and keeps throwing it into our faces every time we attempt to make some forward progress. If we dwell long enough on our past baggage, we get down and depressed; we start questioning our stand with GOD, wondering if He even cares about us any longer. Soon we find ourselves adrift on the ocean of life lacking the hope and security we once found in Christ.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus said: “if the Son sets you free, you really will be free” (John 8:36). We must come to the place where we recognize our position in Christ. The past is gone through Jesus. My present belongs to Him and my future is an eternal promise of kingdom living in the presence of Almighty GOD. Quit allowing Satan to bring up that which is already gone. Quit allowing him to get you down and out. Claim your victory in Jesus Christ today and live that victorious life through Him. All that baggage is under the blood of Jesus, let it go!