Forgetting and Forging Ahead

It seldom matters who we are, where we have come from, or where we are going now, that the distant past doesn't rear its head so high in our rear view mirrors that we sometimes are overcome.  Yes, we can be overcome with fear, regret, or even a fantasy world re-creation of past situations that did not turn out the way we wanted or end the way we would have wished.

Sadly, many Christians are living in their past.  But we need to be reminded of something that is true for all of us as believers in Jesus Christ.  We can choose not to live there anymore!  That's right.  You don't have to don the victim mentality every time you get out of bed.  You don't have to respond to any given situation the same way you always have in the past.  You don't have to feel about people what you felt since you have known them.  You can change all of it by simply choosing not to.

The Apostle Paul gave us the exact prescription for how this can be done...every day.  Here it is:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining toward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Phil 3:12-15)

Notice first that Paul never claimed perfection of maturity of here.  No one can make that claim this side of heaven.  What he did say and what we need to say is "I am pressing forward because Christ is my Savior!"

Secondly, the apostle states how he admonishes us to do two vital things.  The first is to forget the past.  This means exactly that!  Put it in your rear view mirror and don't look back!  Stop remembering what is gone.  Stop revisiting the pain.  Stop torturing yourself as if you still live there in failure.  I remember an old song lyric which said, "You can't drive straight looking in the rear view mirror."  You must determine with absolute resolution to keep your eyes ahead of you!  

So Paul's next and final admonition is simple, "And straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal."  This is actually one act in two parts.  We strain our focus, energy, and life forward while we aim at the goal of Christ-likeness.  The idea is that you cannot do one without the other.  These two actions are to be one big action!  You ask who does this?  Christians who are mature enough to not keep making this tragic mistake of looking backward!  If you desire to be a mature growing believer, God will reveal this to you, and you will be constantly reminded by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God until you do.

Be a mature child of God!  Don't allow your enemy to make you think like a victim.  Rather, allow God to give you the victory over victim-hood by forgetting the past and forging ahead toward Christ.