Fingerprints Past and Future

Madaline McFarland

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord,' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

After a long week, two old friends got together. With no particular place to go, just needing one another’s company they started to drive. This drive would begin a pattern in their lives for it became “just what they did” on such a night as this. They called it memory lane and the path they traveled would take them past their old high school and former boyfriend’s homes from seventh grade until present time. That first drive was a significant moment because it defined them by where they had been, what they had given away, and lessons they had learned. Years passed as they both moved into different chapters of their lives, however from time to time they would meet in the old neighborhood where they grew as children and hop into the car for a “drive”. Their thoughts were not always on the past, but were more often on present events or future dreams, however, the course they took was the same. Sometimes they would solve problems but mostly they would just laugh and be thankful for how far they had come.

The first time I took that drive I was 17. I am now approaching 39 and it has been many years since my friend and I have taken that journey in a car, however I have continued to take it in my mind. I quit calling the trip memory lane and began to think of the journey as more of a dusty trail. In the same manner that a scientist would dust powder over an object to reveal fingerprints, my memories would blow over me and expose the mistakes of my past. Not only would I find the prints of those I allowed to touch my life appear but even negative words which were spoken into my life, that were completely out of my control, also left their mark. This trail of tears left me feeling dirty and unworthy to pursue the one who I knew in my heart could make it all go away. You see I knew my Savior as a young child, but as I grew, there were things I thought I could hide from Him.

In the courtroom of life, Satan himself stands before the throne of God and accuses us of the sins we have committed. (Zechariah 3:1 "Then He showed me Joshua the high priest standing berofe the Angel of the Lord,and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose Him.") I was guilty; the prints that were left behind on me were not debatable. I decided to look up fingerprints and just see how strong of a case the accuser had. It was settled. The accuser had a forensic case that was iron clad. Ninety nine percent of the time in forensic cases, fingerprints would seal the fate of the accused. But wait! At an instant I could see that I was actually building a case against myself. Fingerprints are best preserved when hidden away, untouched and unexposed. I could not go back into the past and erase them and yet… Fingerprints may disappear when exposed to the sunlight or rain. What? Ok, maybe prints in the natural but what about prints left on my Spirit? And then the answer came.

Knowing that there was nothing I could hide from the Righteous Judge, I threw myself to the mercy of the court. I knew as I stood before the Lord that the evidence against me was overwhelming. I felt dirty, scared, and ashamed of decisions I had made. I looked to Him and said, “Father, forgive me.” As the words came out of my mouth, I felt on my skin the warmth of the sun and then following the faint and gentle drops of a summer rain. Then He spoke and said, “For what my child?” “Lord can’t you see the evidence is stacked against me! My past is printed all over my spirit!”

“My daughter”, He replied, “The only print I see on you is mine and the hand print of my Son. For when I formed you in your mother’s womb, my print was engraved into you. It tells the story of all the great plans that I have for your life and it can never be erased. The world has and will continue to try to define you by your mistakes, but I know you. I know your thoughts and your words before they are formed or spoken. My thoughts towards you are good and they out number the grains of sand on any beach. Yes, I know there is a price to pay for the mistakes you have made, however you have been redeemed. My Son has paid the price with His life. The print of His nail scarred hand is now upon you and though you were covered with sin, now you are as white as snow.”

My friend, do not define yourself from your past, but from your future! God put His prints on you when He formed you in your mother’s womb. They were not prints of failure, despair or sickness. Do not say things like “I am a diabetic”, “I am divorced”, “I am depressed” or “I am damaged”. Say, “ I am Designed in the image of the I AM!” Allow the Light of the World and the Rain of His Spirit to wash away the prints of your past. Stand in confidence that you will be all that He created you to be.

Remember Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord, ' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

By accepting the cleansing blood of Jesus, no longer will the prints of the world stain you. His blood repels all stains and you will forever stand before the throne in righteousness. Leave the past behind and possess your future.

The victory is ours in Christ Jesus!

Rev. 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

Come Celebrate with me!

Madaline

For further encouragement read Psalm 139.

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