In life, we may find ourselves in a situation where we have to work with individuals and there are two situations to take place.  There are those that you have to work with that maybe have a past that is a little sketchy at the same time perhaps you’re the person with a bit of a sketchy past. How do we deal with that and what does that look like? Today on Geek Devotions we’re going to talk about that and Pacific Rim Black!

Pacific Rim Black is a Netflix Original anime that takes place in the continuity of the Pacific Rim movies. This series follows two young people who are attempting to survive in the abandoned continent of Australia. While there they’ve discovered an abandoned Jaeger, a large mech to fight the Kaiju/Monsters. The interesting thing about piloting a Jaeger is that it requires two people to have their minds in sync. This requires both pilots to have their minds and memories completely open to each other through a process called “Drifting.” The end result is that you come out knowing every detail about each other’s lives and thoughts.

This process of drifting leaves both pilots very vulnerable. If you hold back, the drift fails and you can’t accomplish the mission before you. In the series, you meet a girl named Mei who has a very troubled past. There comes a moment where she and another pilot named Taylor have to drift. But when she first gets in the machine she is very closed off. She doesn’t want her past to be seen. She doesn’t want Taylor to know what she’s done and what she’s been through. At this moment he says something key….

“I don’t give a crap about what’s in your past. We have to do this together.”

As Christians, we are on a mission that was given to us by God himself. But, sometimes people carry a lot of shame and doubt because of what they had done and said before they came to know Christ. They guard themselves and keep a distance because they are afraid of being treated poorly or looked down upon by other believers. This leads us to the question and topic of this devotion…

How should we respond to those with a sorted past? How do we deal with them and how do we help them? Let’s take a look at a couple of Biblical examples of individuals who had a “sorted past.”

Moses

Moses is a man who is highly respected in our faith and in the Jewish faith. For those in Judaism, he is known as “Moshe Rabbenu” meaning “Moses our Teacher.” He is highly respected and responsible for the writing of the first 5 books of our Bible. Yet, before leading his people out of captivity, he was raised as an Egyptian. Unintentionally he was a traitor to his people. He lived in a lifestyle that victimized his people. He was also responsible for the murder of a man. But despite these flaws, he was used mightily by God and lead his people to freedom.

Apostle Paul

Before being known as Paul the Apostle. He was known as Saul, the man responsible for rounding up and murdering the followers of Jesus. Saul was a man who was zealous and passionately sentenced Christians to death. Yet, he had an encounter with the Lord one day and came to be a believer in Jesus. Today we know him as the man who wrote most of our new Testament spoke the words; follow me as I follow Christ.  Did he have to go through a time of growth and healing? Yes absolutely. He had to spend time being disciple by the original disciples so that they could help him to heal from his past and grow.
(Acts 9)

Apostle Peter

Peter is a man who has always been zealous for the Lord. He was so zealous that he cut off the ear of the man who attempted to arrest Jesus. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have his shortcomings.  Scriptures tell us that at the night Jesus was sentenced to death, he denied even knowing Jesus. Not just once but 3 times!  Yet later, after Jesus’ resurrection, he had a very interesting conversation. In this conversation, Jesus asked him, “do you love me?”  Peter’s response… “of course I do!” Jesus then instructed him to feed His sheep. What was Jesus saying?  If we could paraphrase here Jesus essentially said. “I know what you did Peter and I forgive you. What matters now is that you have submitted your life to the Father and it’s now time to move forward and accomplish the mission that He has given you.
(John 18, John 21:15-19)

When we examine the Biblical model, it’s clear that we should look to help restore individuals who have fallen and help them take their next step forward. Their past does not matter in the great scheme of things, what matters is if in this moment they have submitted their lives to God and are willing to move forward. We sometimes fail at that as believers, but we must act accordingly.

In this devotion, Dallas shared a story about a conversation he had with a young woman one day. She had been told by those close to her that because of her past, she did not deserve and should not attempt to be in a relationship with someone who has not lived the lifestyle she had before coming to Christ. Dallas asked her, “Have you asked God to forgive you of your sins?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Dallas responded to her,

“Then if God is willing to forgive you and restore you; then who am I, or anyone else, to try and cast greater judgment?”

Perhaps you’re one of those individuals who have lived a lifestyle that you’re ashamed of and you’ve allowed it to hold you back or you’ve been a victim of people using it to hold you back. We want you to know that you’re loved and that there is hope for you. If Christ has set you free, then you are free indeed!  If we can be in prayer with you about anything, don’t be afraid to reach to us.