Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday May 11, 2007

Here in the Wabash Valley we have a read a book a month movement and I like the idea. A month or so ago the book of the month was "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, considered a grand book. I enjoyed the book and the movie years ago.

The last line in Gatsby is a rather haunting line that creeps into most lives too many times. Fitzgerald stated:

"And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

People with a past know from often embarrassing experience the truth of the line. You don't have to a famous person, but no matter how obscure you may think yourself to be, someone, somewhere feels that you are too big for your britches in light of "What you did that time.."

Yours truly is certainly by no stretch of the imagination "obscure" though on occasion I would like to crawl into a hole and pull it in behind me. I deal with the "Past Police" nearly daily and don't give it much thought. I will share my secret in a moment.

One of the most famous men in modern times, aside from President Clinton, to be called upon about his past is O.J. Simpson. Like him or hate him, a jury found him not guilty. According to a poll of some 49,000 people, 85% still insist on his guilt. So much for the faith of 85% of the American public in our judicial system.

The night before the Kentucky Derby, my favorite race, O.J. and entourage entered and were seated at a table in the rear of an upscale steak house in Louisville, owned by Jeff Ruby. Mr. Ruby walked up to O.J.'s table and informed the party that he would not serve Mr. Simpson. The owner was applauded by the majority of the patrons. Being the gentleman, O.J. left quietly. Lawsuit to follow. If you need to know, I pray that Mr. Simpson comes out the owner of three steak houses owned by Mr. Ruby. In America we have to settle for the informed opinion of 12 jurors, not the bias of one man or of the unwashed masses, though I am certain the masses in this steak house were well groomed. At least their horses are.

You and I are not as famous, or if you please, infamous as O.J. but I'll bet there is something in your past that you wish would go away. If you are a descendent of Adam I know there is that little matter of sin, passed down to the entire race by our progenitor.

"And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

About the only place even a Christian can be free from being "borne back ceaselessly into the past" is to remain in the presence of Christ, for such things as are under His cleansing blood are never mentioned by Him or the assembled host in heaven. Until then poor sinners must take heart that when sins are dealt with, God doesn't bring them up from the depths and neither should we.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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