Wednesday, May 25, 2016
If we are driving on the highway or in heavy traffic we can’t afford to take long glances at the objects in our rearview mirror. If we do, serious consequences may follow. Life is like that too. If we focus too much on the things of the past, we too can suffer the consequences. Perhaps, that is one reason the apostle, Paul, wrote: “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
When he spoke of “forgetting those things which are behind” it was a matter of speaking, because common sense should tell us that many things in our past will never be forgotten. Take Joseph for example. Do you think he ever forgot what his brothers did to him? Yet, he obviously forgave them and provided for them afterwards when he was second in command in Egypt. Had any of his brothers approached him later to personally apologize for it, he probably would have said “forget it.” I think it is pretty clear that Paul was saying that he wasn’t focusing on the past but on what was ahead.
Though there are good and bad things in our past, we tend to focus mostly on the painful events and dwell on them much, much longer than we should. Ironically, many of the things of our past are actually now up ahead, especially the deaths of our loved ones. There is no need to look for them in the rearview mirror of our lives for we will no longer find them there. Because of Christ, we will find them up ahead. All our best days and experiences are ahead of us, not behind us. Like Paul, we should all focus on the prize that is up ahead. Its gonna be fantastic!
Memory verse for the week: (James 5:16 NIV) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
