How to Turn Back to Your Life Before Christ?

I thought all the wrong things I loved or did would just vanish, when I came to Christ. I imagined I would turn into this beam of light that could never take a whiff of the things I used to do. Boy, was that far from the truth. I didn’t understand why I still desired the things I used to like. I became worried about the possibility of turning back to the old life that I had; a life that was characterized with lies, deceit, different kinds of sexual sin, manipulation and outbursts of anger. In my mind, I said I wasn’t going to go back. So why was I still feeling the exact same way?

Although, I had accepted Christ, I still lived in the flesh. My life and memories, didn’t just suddenly disappear. My spirit within me was renewed, but the deepest parts that make up my mind, will and emotions, were exactly the same. I didn’t understand then the action of believing an accepting Jesus Christ produced positional justification. What I thought would happen immediately, was sanctification. Sanctification is the process of being saved from the power of sin. This is a gradual process and it is progressive. The justification we receive by believing in Christ Jesus and His saving power, saves us from the guilt of sin. However, justification doesn’t mean all the sins you struggled with will suddenly disappear. Unfortunately, no. You still have to go through the process of sanctification.

The Process of Sanctification

The process of sanctification is just as the name implies; it is a process. It is a process that requires intentional steps that lead to transformation. Examples include, daily intake of the Word of God, fellowshipping with other believers and the Holy Spirit. When these intentional steps stop, we are hindering the progression of our transformation. As a result, we will not bear fruit that shows that we have truly come to Christ. Additionally, we deny ourselves God’s full extent to showcase His glory in our lives.

Even though, we are meant to be intentional about our transformation, God’s mercy speaks for us. God isn’t scared of the things that you love, that He hates, neither is He surprised. God called us, knowing very well that we would still turn our backs on Him, again and again. Yet, He still offers us mercy when our lips say we love Him, and our actions betray us. The grace that God offers us, every time we come to Him with a repentant heart is beyond surreal. What manner of love this!

However, though God knows the things we struggle with, and offers us mercy, He doesn’t want us to remain in it. There is something I used to tell myself when I rededicated my life to God. It’s really simple: Keep moving. This mantra takes the heart posture that, no matter what happens, you are not going to wallow in your sins. You’re not going to stay in whatever you’re fighting and accept that it is who you are. Rather you’re going to keep moving. Whether you’re walking, or trotting or crawling. You need to have the attitude that you’re not going to stay where you are. Because, once you do, things go downhill from there.

What’s the Point?

One thing the enemy loved to do – he sometimes does now – was to remind me of who I was. Involuntary memories would just flood my mind, and I would enter into this morose state, where I thought I could never change. That wasn’t necessarily a lie. I could never change. Not by my own strength any way. It’s important to understand that this feeling is just a feeling and not the truth. What the devil tries to do is get you to a ‘What’s the point?’ phase, so that we will turn back to our old lives. Once that happens it is too easy to slip back into what you were saved from.

There are a bunch of ways that the enemy uses to get you to this point. I would only touch on one, which I believe has been very critical for me. One of them is to isolate yourself from the gathering of believers. There is something really wonderful about being in the midst of believers.

“Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”. Where there is light, darkness has to flee. It is a natural phenomenon. Light natural broods over darkness. More so, in the midst of believers, this freedom is so paramount. However, once you begin to isolate yourself, you don’t let the light of God shine through the darkest crevices of your heart. Apart from hearing the Word of God and growing from it, the light of other believers doesn’t shine on you. Sometimes, it’s through an encouraging conversation or a warm hug. It is not only helpful to us, but it is also a requirement in the Bible (Hebrews 10: 24-25). Being in the midst of believers does wonders, especially when paired with seeking God individually.

Walking in the Spirit

What will ultimately make us feel as though we are turning back to the life that we lived before Christ, is rampant sin. Especially turning to the same sins we were saved from. (If you would like me to touch on repetitive sins as a believer, let me know in the comments!) To conquer sin we need more of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us that, if we walk by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). This isn’t merely a suggestion. It is the type of life we should live by, if we want to move away from the desires of the flesh. To walk in the Spirit, you need to know what the Spirit actually requires. How do you know what the Spirit requires? The Word of God shows us who God is. The more time we spend in it the more we understand what God likes and dislikes. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit within us. His job is to teach us the ways of God. But He won’t be able to teach us anything, if we have no reference point for learning. The Bible is our reference point!

You will inevitably turn back to an old life, if you are not being intentional about growing your new life in Christ. It starts with a desire to grow. Jesus lets us know that, whatever we ask for in His name that brings God glory, He will do it. It brings God glory to see us sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Therefore, even if you currently don’t have that desire, He is more than happy to give it to you. All you have to do is ask, with Hands Lifted High.

Verses

Hebrews 10: 24-25 NKJV – And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Galatians 5:16 NKJV – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;