上班途中，我聽著一首英文歌曲（Dear Younger Me），歌詞說道：「假如能帶著現在已知的一切回到過去，你會告訴年輕的自己哪些事？」我邊聽邊想，如果真的回到過去，我會給予少不更事的自己哪些忠告和提醒。在我們生命中的某個階段，多數人都曾想過，若生命可以重來，或許我們做事的方法會有所不同。

但接下來的歌詞又說，即便我們對過去的生活充滿悔恨，但過往的經驗卻也塑造了我們。如今，我們無法回到過去，也不能改變當初的抉擇或錯誤所造成的後果。但讚美上帝，因著耶穌所成就的一切，我們不需要背負這樣的重擔和過去的錯誤。「祂曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活，重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望」（彼得前書1章3節）。

若我們相信並歸向祂，為我們的罪痛悔，祂就赦免我們。在那一刻，我們會在靈裡被更新，成為新造的人（哥林多後書5章17節） 。無論我們曾做過（或沒做到）什麼，我們都能因祂的救贖而得到赦免。我們可以繼續前行，珍惜今天，期待永遠與祂同在。在基督裡，我們是自由的！

On the way to work, I listened to the song “Dear Younger Me,” which asks: If you could go back, knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self? As I listened, I thought about the bits of wisdom I might give my younger, less-wise self. Most of us have thought about how we might do things differently—if only we could do it all over again.

But the song illustrates that even though we have regrets from our past, all our experiences have shaped who we are. We can’t change the consequences of our choices or sin. Praise God we don’t have to carry the mistakes around with us. Because of what Jesus has done! “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”! (1 Peter 1:3).

If we turn to Him in faith and sorrow for our sins, He will forgive us. On that day we’re made brand new and begin the process of being spiritually transformed (2 Cor. 5:17). It doesn’t matter what we’ve done (or haven’t done), we are forgiven because of what He’s done. We can move forward, making the most of today and anticipating a future with Him. In Christ, we’re free!