Forgetting the past is a hard thing to do. It is for me, and it probably is for you, too. Can you just lay your past down and step forward toward something new? Paul tells us that he could. He also told the Philippians that they could and is telling us that we to can do the same. “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
The great Apostle Paul, the one apostle that was hand-picked by Jesus, realized his weaknesses. He knew that he was still working on his life and his problems. He said he hadn’t arrived yet, hadn’t gotten it all down pat, but was focusing on one thing. Let’s look closely at what his focus was on, moving beyond the past. I paraphrase here, but that’s exactly what Paul was saying. He was leaving yesterday behind and looking to tomorrow. How can we also achieve this kind of focus?
Paul said that he “pressed on”. The Message says he was “reaching out for Christ”. I think that is a good way to look at it. We reach out (forward) for Jesus. God is a God of the future. When we put the past behind us and move closer to God, He puts our sins so far in the past that it’s like they never happened. Why can’t we do that too?
Once we get past our past and seek to walk with God, what then? What’s the next step? We reach the end of the race and hopefully win the prize, Heaven. Jesus told us in John 14:3-4, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Jesus is preparing the prize for us right now. It won’t be long and He will come back to show us what we have been reaching for all this time. But to move forward we have to stay in the race and quit looking back. We have to look forward. That’s where Jesus is. Reach out for the finish line, we are almost there.
God Bless!
:) thanks for the encouragement. something told me to read this tonight. I appreciate your prayers and support and I thank you for taking the time to do this blog. You are glorifying God! I love my sweet momma and tell her all the time...and not enough! Yours is in my prayers, too!
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