REDEMPTION FROM THE PAST
“No more! Show me no more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me?”
(Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, Stave 2)
“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been, that they are what they are, do not blame me!”
(Ghost of Christmas Past, A Christmas Carol, Stave 2)
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1.18)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5.17)
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3.13-14)
Advent Day 5: Consequences of Past Choices
The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a painful journey into his own history. He is forced to relive moments of loneliness, regret, and lost opportunities. When faced with the reality of what his life has become because of those choices, he cannot bear it:
“No more! Show me no more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me?”
— Stave Two
The Spirit is not torturing Scrooge but holding up a mirror to his soul. His anguish is the natural consequence of his past decisions—choices made in selfishness, fear, and greed. Dickens shows us that the past is never entirely gone; it continues to shape us, whether through wounds left unhealed or roads left untaken.
The Bible, too, reminds us that choices have consequences. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). Israel learned this lesson as their rebellion led to exile and sorrow. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Yet the hope of Advent is that God does not leave us in despair. Though we cannot undo the past, in Christ we are offered forgiveness, renewal, and a redeemed future. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Scrooge’s cry is one of regret—but regret can be the soil in which repentance grows. Advent reminds us that Christ came not just to show us our brokenness, but to heal it. He enters our stories, even the painful chapters, to bring redemption.
Is there a moment from your past that haunts you? A choice that left you scarred? Advent is God’s invitation to bring that pain to Jesus, who can turn shame into forgiveness, regret into hope, and death into life.
Prayer
Merciful Savior, I confess that my past choices have often led me away from You. Thank You that Your grace is greater than my sin. Heal the wounds of my past, redeem my story, and help me walk in the newness of life You freely give. This Advent, give me courage to trust that You are making all things new. Amen.
Artistic and Interpretative Analysis
This illustration uses an arched frame, giving it a formal, almost religious or historical feel. The artist in depicting Ebenezer Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Past emphasizes the emotional weight of memory and the contrast between the physical and the ethereal.
Artistic Analysis
Composition and Contrast: The composition uses a distinct juxtaposition: Scrooge, a figure of heavy materiality and despair, is hunched on the right, covering his eyes with a gnarled hand. This pose suggests deep pain or an unwillingness to see his past misdeeds. On the left stands the Ghost of Christmas Past, an almost androgynous, youthful, and luminous figure, described in the novella as being both old and young simultaneously. The spirit is depicted with a bright light emanating from its head, which represents the illumination of memory and truth.
Style and Technique:
The artwork employs a soft, warm color palette, utilizing what appears to be colored pencil or pastel work to create texture and a soft, glowing atmosphere within an arched frame. This gives the image a delicate, almost dreamlike quality that matches the nature of the spirits’ visit. The artist’s use of light and shadow highlights Scrooge’s physical form in darker, earthier tones, while the ghost is rendered in pale, glowing whites and yellows, making the spirit seem less substantial and more ephemeral.
Themes and Mood:
The illustration effectively captures the central theme of regret and the potential for redemption. Scrooge’s posture communicates his inner turmoil and the heavy burden of his past actions, which he is now forced to confront. The ghost is presented as a calm, guiding presence, its light a symbol of hope and self-discovery, prompting the beginning of Scrooge’s transformation. The overall mood is one of quiet solemnity and poignant reflection.
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)
Playlist Daily Highlight
We’ve provided multiple versions of this classic Christmas carol. Listen to your favorite style, but also try something new!
See if you find a new appreciation for this song or a different version than what you’re used to.
Take the time to listen . . . really listen to the words of this song and reflect on them. Let God speak to you in this moment.