What To Do When The Guilt Of Your Past Comes Knocking?

Gen. 42:21-22 - Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."    NASU
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•  The Cause of their Guilt 

Jacob's sons are in a dilemma. They had years ago sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery. They took his coat of many colors and stained it with animal blood and then lied to their dad, Jacob, about what they had done to Joseph.
 
There had been a famine and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain.
 
Little did they know their brother, Joseph, who they had sold into slavery is now in charge in Egypt. Joseph sees his brothers and he recognizes them but they don't recognize him.
 
Joseph has them placed in prison and accuses them of being spies. He leaves them in prison for three days and tells them they must leave one of the brothers in prison, travel home and bring their younger brother, Benjamin, to Egypt to prove they are telling the truth and they are not spies.

•  The Guilt of the Past Returns 

Now is when their guilty consciences kick in and they remember what they had done to Joseph, their brother, and this is why this disaster is coming upon them. We probably all have done something in our past that periodically comes back from time to time to haunt us.
 
The two best ways I know to overcome a guilty conscience if you have hurt someone:

1. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from the hurt person.
2. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from God if the hurt person cannot be contacted.

After their father, Jacob, dies the brothers send a message to Joseph asking him to forgive them. Gen. 50:16-17 -"Your father charged before he died, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong." 'And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.'"         
 
The brothers asked Joseph for forgiveness and it was granted to them.  

• The Hope We Have In Christ

When your conscience brings up your past here is what I have found works for me.
 
During those times I remind myself that I am not that person any longer. That Gary died and was buried March 2, 1975, in the watery grave of baptism. Jesus was and is the perfect sacrifice that atones for the sins of mankind. The best way to defeat your guilty conscience is to be born again.
 
I am not perfect now but thank God I am not what I used to be nor am I what I want to be.  I want to do what 2 Pet. 3:18 says, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
 
Like the sign says, "Under Construction: God isn't finished with me yet."

• Guilty Conscience About Something Done After Your Baptism?

In case you didn't know Christians aren't perfect and sometimes our guilty consciences come from things we have done after we have become a Christian. You may have done something that hasn't hurt anyone but yourself so you don't have to ask for anyone's forgiveness.

People have told you, "To let it go." You wish you could but everything you have tried isn't working. 

So what should be done in those situations? I would say, "You need to remember what God has done for you and He Has Forgiven You so forgive yourself." 

• I Am Plagued By Feeling Guilty Constantly

Some people have a personality that dwells on the past and if you are a Christian that is constantly fighting your past mistakes then, by all means, you need to dwell on God's ability to forgive you of your sins.

• Christians Have The Same Enemy As Jesus

Christians must remember that we have the same enemy as Jesus had when He was on earth.
 
I like this saying, "When the devil wants to remind you of your past, remind him of his future." 

God is going to CRUSH him one day and so it says in Romans 16:20 - "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."    
 
If you want to dwell on something dwell on what God has done for you and what He will do to the devil. 

Think About These:

The head usher to happiness is a well-kept conscience.
 
Your conscience is not the voice of God; it is a gift from God.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago 

Minister of God's Word