Don’t Look Back
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13
The apostle Paul said “forgetting what is behind?” Obviously, there are things in our past we are to remember, but we use these past events to help us strain forward.
We remember the past with reference to how the Lord has changed us. Remembering our past, brings to mind how quickly the years go by. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14) This life on earth is short especially when we remember events in our early life.
The Lord doesn’t want us to look at the past because it can hinder our future walk with the Lord. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are a new creation in Christ, born of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and our new life has started.
Satan wants us to remember our past and live for fleshly desires. We are created to live by the Spirit who guides into the future toward Heaven. Satan uses fear to pull us away from God, but God has given power over Satan.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. We have eternity in our heart which moves us forward. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Read the Word, pray, fellowship with other Christians which keeps us eternally minded. The past has gone and all things are new, and heaven is our home.
Today. Remember the love the Lord has for you and that he has prepared a place for you in heaven. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3) The Lord will return and take us home.
Prayer: Guide me in the Spirit to reflect Christ with confidence and with a heart filled with your love. In Jesus name, Amen