Past Baggage

Likely no one reading this has ever heard of Reuben Johnson. This man was a notorious criminal in his area of the United States just before the beginning of the 20^th century. He had been in the State Penitentiary for nearly 20 years when the commissioners of the penitentiary asked the Governor to pardon 5 men for good behavior. The governor agreed, but with a special provision. There was to be a 6 month testing period in which none of the 1100 prisoners was to know of this and the 5 with the best records were to be pardoned and released during a visit by the President of the United States. At the end of the 6 months, the President and Governor along with many dignitaries came to the penitentiary for the pardoning, which until that time, none of the prisoners knew about! The president began to tell the story of the testing period and their plan to release the 5 men. However, before he could tell the story, he had to release the tremendous tension in the room by giving out the names of the 5 men to be pardoned. The first name on the list was Reuben Johnson! His name was called 3 times but there was no answer! The governor recognized him and asked why he did not come to receive his pardon. He simply looked behind and around him, thinking it must be another Reuben Johnson! It took 3 times before the truth of his pardon became a reality to his mind! He went to receive his pardon, then sat down and cried! But this is not the end of the story. When the great meeting was over and the other 4 men had received their pardons and had left as free men, Reuben Johnson, by force of habit, got in line with the rest of the prisoners to return to his cell! He had to be reminded that he was free to go! Finally the truth sank in and he left the Penitentiary after almost 20 years, now a free man!

How much is this like the baggage of our past that we continue carrying around with us many years later? In the BBN Bible Institute Christian Living and Family Studies Division, course number 21200, Putting Your Past Behind You, the very real issue of our past is faced squarely and dealt with in a Biblical manner.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer, our instructor for the course, draws from the truth of the Bible and his vast experience in dealing with the problems of people carrying the scars of their past as he teaches this much needed course. We trust that this course will be a valuable resource in your own life and ministry in helping you and those you love to put your past behind you and live each day for the Lord.  (BBNBI.org)