Many people have lived lives that they have come to regret.  There are things about their past of which they are greatly ashamed.  This is nothing new.  Paul reminded the saints at Rome that there were some things in their past of which they were now ashamed.

Romans 6:20-21 (ESV)
²⁰  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.      

Thank God, those of us with an unsavory past have, by the grace of God, changed.  There are some, however, who feel that their past was so bad that God will not forgive them.  This is a deception of the devil.  If you have done some unrighteous things in the past, the devil wants you to believe that you cannot be forgiven because, then, it is likely that you will never obey the gospel.

It does not matter what you have done up to this point in your life, if you are willing to repent, God will forgive you.  The blood of Christ can wash away any sin.

David used his powerful position in life as king to precipitate an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-4).  Then, after she revealed that she had conceived a child, David arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle (2 Samuel 11:14-15).  This made David both an adulterer and a murderer; yet, when David finally repented of his sins, God forgave him.

2 Samuel 12:13 (ESV)
¹³  David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

Isn’t God merciful?  Paul is another good example of a sinner forgiven by God.  He persecuted the church, resulting in the murder of several of God’s people (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2, 13, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:6).  Even Paul was critical of himself when he thought about his past, but he knew, by God’s grace, he was forgiven.

1 Timothy 1:12-13 (ESV)
¹²  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, ¹³  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Then, we have the example of the Corinthians.  Before they obeyed the gospel, some of them were adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, extortioners, etc., yet, upon their repentance and obedience to the gospel, their sins were washed away by the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Do not make the spiritually fatal mistake of thinking that your past is too bad to be forgiven.  It is not.  God wants to save you, but you have to forget about what lies behind you and obey the gospel.   Don’t underestimate the love, mercy, and grace of God.  It is the only thing that can save you.      

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.