Broken Past, Redeemed Legacy

By Tischa Van de Reep

There are those of us who believe that you must be good, brave, or virtuous to be used by God and leave a solid legacy behind. We let our past disqualify us, when God will use that very past as a testimony of His love and grace.

We can look at the Apostle Paul. Once a vicious persecutor of Christians, Jesus turned his heart in a blinding flash of light on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). Once changed, Paul executed his mission to bring the gospel to the known world with passion and unwavering dedication, all the way to his gruesome death for Christ. Paul’s life and writings continue to teach and inspire us to walk boldly in our faith and live unapologetically for Jesus. His is a legacy that endures because it is all about Jesus Christ.

Your past is the very thing that points to the glory of God and how powerful His love is when you allow Him to work in and through you. Your past should not be an indicator of your shame but an indicator of your redemption in Christ Jesus. It’s your way of telling others, “I was there, but now I’m here. Look what God has done!” And people who are where you were can see the possibilities of Christ working in their lives too. Your broken past no longer has power over you; Jesus does now. The legacy He creates with you will testify to that. 

Consider the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-16. There are some names there that you would think have no right to be connected to our Lord and Savior. Jesus was the only perfect Man to walk the earth, and yet, there were some seriously imperfect people in His family tree.

Let’s take a look:

Jacob (Matthew 1:2) was a bit of a scoundrel. He tricked his brother, Esau, out of his birthright (even though it was Esau who took his birthright for granted) in Genesis 27. Jacob tricked his father-in-law, Laban, by fleeing his land with great wealth in Genesis 31. He was so strong-willed that he wrestled with God through the night until God put his hip out of joint, causing him to limp for the rest of his life (Genesis 32).

Judah and Tamar are named as a couple in Matthew 1:3. However, Tamar was actually Judah’s daughter-in-law, who was widowed when her wicked husband (Judah’s son) was struck down by God. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute who Judah solicited, and so she conceived by her father-in-law (Genesis 38). 

You can’t make this stuff up.

Rahab was a prostitute, and she wasn’t an Israelite. Ruth wasn’t an Israelite either. 

David has a reputation for being a man after God’s own heart, but he was also a murderer and adulterer. When he laid his eyes on Bathsheba, he had to have her, even though she had a husband named Uriah, who was one of David’s faithful soldiers. David conspired to have Uriah killed after he got Bathsheba pregnant (2 Samuel 11). But even before Bathsheba, David wasn’t winning any fidelity awards.

Looking at all this sordid history, I think we just need to remind ourselves: This genealogy ends with Jesus! (Matthew 1:16).

The truth is, God can take anything and make it beautiful. You don’t have to get yourself perfect before coming to Him; He will take you as you are and be glorified in and through you. What people have done in your family history does not determine what God will do with you. And what you have done in your own past does not determine who you ultimately become in Christ Jesus. 

Surrender your heart and your history to the One who makes all things new. Make today the beginning of a new legacy in Christ for all the generations to come.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for redeeming my broken past. Please continue to lead me in Your righteousness to live a life free from the sin that once kept me bound. Lord Jesus, I surrender to You. My future is in Your loving hands. It is in Your holy name that I pray. AMEN.

Tischa Van de Reep

Tischa is a Trinidad-born writer and speaker married to Harald, a Dutchman. They live in The Woodlands, TX, with their two sons, Julian and Aidan. Tischa brings authenticity and vulnerability to all her teachings on Scripture. She is the author of Unpopular: Following Jesus, Not the Crowd, as well as several other Bible teachings and Bible studies. Apart from teaching Scripture from her living room and various churches, Tischa’s work in ministry extends from homeless women in Houston, to expat wives in Budapest, Hungary, to rural villagers in Malawi, Africa, and women across the US. For more info, go to tischavandereep.com