Your Past Does Not Have To Be Your Future

As Paul neared the end of his life, languishing in a Roman prison, he wrote to Timothy. Paul gave Timothy a list of instructions and warnings. Then, at the end of 2 Timothy, he tells Timothy, “Do your best to come to me soon.” As Paul looked at the end of his life, he wanted to not only hear from Timothy, he wanted to see Timothy. He asked Timothy to bring him a few things–a coat, some parchments–but that was not all.

In addition to the things Timothy was to bring, Paul asked Timothy to bring a person:

 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 

2 Timothy 4:11

As the twilight of his life was approaching, Paul did not want to be alone. He wanted Timothy, and he wanted Mark.

But, Paul had not always wanted Mark.

Acts 15 recounts the story of the division between Paul and Barnabas. Two giants in the early church had what the Bible calls a “sharp” disagreement. What was the disagreement over? Read Luke’s description,

³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Acts 15:37-38

Before Mark was useful to Paul, Mark was a source of contention between Paul and Barnabas. Before Mark was useful to Paul, Mark was leaving Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their mission.

What went wrong? We don’t know. Maybe Mark got homesick? Maybe they pushed Mark too soon and he was not ready for the strain of missions and ministry. Maybe Mark was young and Paul and Barnabas expected too much?

Regardless of what went wrong, we know it went really wrong and Mark did not finish his first assignment well.

But, Mark’s past was not his future. Your past does not have to be your future either.

At some point after his failure, Mark became faithful.

Paul had hard words for Mark, but Mark did not quit. Instead he proved Paul wrong and he earned Paul’s respect and companionship. Mark had a future that was greater than his failures.

Mark was useful to Paul and to God’s kingdom. You can be too.

Are you on the sidelines because you messed up? Have you checked out because something went wrong? Do you believe you are damaged goods because of your failures?

God was not done with Mark, and as long as you are breathing, he is not done with you either.

Stop living in the past and get busy living for the future God has for you.

Photo by Hadija Saidi on Unsplash