once a cheater, always a cheater

Most of us have heard the phrase "once a cheater, always a cheater". Some of us have said the phrase and I would guess, most of us believe it... to some degree. It is a little piece of worldly wisdom...it means to me - "Look at the past of a person and beware, what they've done previously - they'll do again". It is logical and I've employed this regularly throughout my life.

This morning I was thinking about grace (giving others what they do not deserve)... I also read the following:

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

...and the parable of the lost son (below).

I began to realize the greatness of God...To Him, "once a cheater, always a cheater" does not exist. It is possible for us to transform! Not be what we were! Now...Let me also say that I do not think I am supposed to deny what I was and what I've done...God doesn't! I see two messages from God to me that I will share with you.

For those struggling with their past...maybe sins, maybe actions, shame, abuse, etc.:
You do not have to be the person you were forever...When you... (Mark 12:30)  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength", you will be transformed! Not of the same form...different - more and more like Jesus! You are not what you were...

For those that are transforming:
You do not need to be ashamed of your past. You are not what you were...but...you know that God is in full control of our lives. He knows what you did and who you were, and, He - the King of kings - is not ashamed of you! He wants you to use your past to relate, give grace, and love others so they can see the fullness of God's grace and love!

Thank Jesus, who removes our sins, for the grace extended to us so that the saying " "once a cheater, always a cheater" does not have to describe us!

Luke 15:11-32

 The Parable of the Lost Son

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.    ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
   ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
   ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
   ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
   ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”