Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments.” We would all hope that such would be the case for us. We all have had our moments that have not exactly been our best!

Unfortunately, the world tends to remember people for their worst moments. When I bring up the name, “Will Smith”, what first comes to your mind? Probably one of his worst moments, his encounter with Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Even people in the Bible are sometimes remembered for their worst moments. We call him “Doubting Thomas” because that disciple was slow to believe that Jesus had indeed been resurrected. But Thomas also had some better moments. At one point he was ready to go and die with Jesus (John 11:16). And after his initial doubt, Thomas did eventually express his faith in the resurrected Jesus, professing Jesus to be his “Lord and God” (John 20:28).

On the other hand, we see examples of those in Scripture who made some serious mistakes, yet are more remembered for their good deeds and qualities. Moses killed a man and later made excuses why he couldn’t obey God, but he went down in history as the one who led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then tried to cover it up with murder. But he is best remembered for defeating Goliath, writing Psalms and being one of Israel’s best kings. Job questioned God, but he is known for his faithful perseverance in times of extreme adversity. Rahab was a prostitute, but she is listed in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” because she expressed her belief in God and aligned herself with God’s people (v.31).

Because we are all sinners, everyone has had their share of bad moments. Most people have had some good moments as well. How we are remembered by other people (if indeed we are remembered at all!) does not matter nearly as much as how God views us. Through the blood of Jesus we can receive forgiveness for our sins, and God will see us as pure and holy.

Paul the apostle writes these words to the church at Corinth—“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Some of the members of the church at Corinth had committed some horrific sins. However, because they had repented and been baptized into Christ, their past sins were not held against them. Their true value was measured by their new identity in Christ.

So let’s not be burdened with worry about our sinful past. Let’s trust the blood of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins and let’s know for certain that we are highly valued by God!