Victory Over Stigmas

by Gene Easley  

     A stigma, defined as a mark of disgrace or reproach, on our life, can follow us throughout our earthly journey.  We can be forever stigmatized by our sins, failures, misjudgments, and sometimes our associations.  A stigma can remain associated with a person’s name as long as anyone remembers it or history records it.  But that’s not to say that victory over it cannot be won.  

     When David made a wrong choice regarding Bathsheba and committed a grievous sin, he was forever marked.  Though he was the sweet psalmist of Israel , a man after God’s own heart, he is also known as the man who sinned with Bathsheba.  Psalm 51 records the prayer of David as he beseeched God for mercy and restoration to the joy he once knew with his Maker.  David’s prayer was answered, and he was restored to a place of sweet communion with God.  But the stigma of his sin with Bathsheba remained.  

     How does one gain victory over stigmas and go on with life?  We know in heaven there will be no stigmas.  We will dwell in His glory there, and nothing of sin or its memories will find place in that eternal land of righteousness.  There will be no condemnation there.  But there is also a place of no condemnation here on earth.  

     One of the secrets to victory over the stigmas of life is to find that place of no condemnation in Jesus right now.  Others may bring up our failures and try to bring them to life again, but we can live above condemnation because we have been cleansed, restored, made anew in Christ.  The defeat, though it might linger in the memories of others, it is no longer a part of us.  We can not purchase an eraser large enough or strong enough to erase that memory from the minds of others, but we can live above our past with a victory over those disgraceful things.  We can live triumphantly in Christ.   

     Peter denied Christ three times.  Later, he could not deny that what he did was a shameful act.  But he got victory over it and was filled with the Holy Spirit.  The power of God was with him to the extent that the sick were laid in his shadow and were healed as he passed by.  That is surely victory over one’s stigmas.  

     John Mark brought disgrace upon himself when he turned back from the mission, leaving Paul and Barnabas without that extra hand of help.  When Barnabas desired to take Mark on their second missionary journey, Paul refused to allow him to go.  Mark’s stigma of desertion on the first journey had disqualified him in Paul’s eyes for the second journey.  I, personally, believe Paul made the correct decision in not letting Mark go.  But I also believe that Barnabas was right to take Mark with him, giving him another chance to prove himself and regain his witness and testimony for Christ.   

     Our past records of failure can be overcome by our new dedication and by our success today in our labors for Christ.  The admonition is that we must not allow past failures to stop us from serving Christ.  We can’t permit defeat to be our ultimate testimony.  God does offer new beginnings! 

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