Forgetting The Past
“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
For many of you, reading this title immediately brings up an opinion. It might be an opinion influenced by optimism, as that is what you have tried to do for so long. For others, it might be an opinion influenced by pessimism. You might be saying, “Well pastor that is easier said than done.”
Regardless of what your opinion is on the past, regardless of what your experiences are in the past, good or bad, Paul gives us the blueprint for “running the race, pressing toward the goal, and receiving the prize” at the end.
In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says, “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.”
Now, you might be saying, “Pastor, you don’t know what happened in my past. You don’t know what I’ve done or what has been done to me.” And that is true, I might not. But do you know what Paul did? Paul KILLED Christians. He was a murderer. He hated those who followed God. And yet, God used him in some amazing ways.
Do you think Paul could have achieved all that he did and influenced all the people he did if was hung up on the mistakes of his past? I would say absolutely not. And the same goes for you. If you want to pursue the will of God, you must forget the past. This does not mean completely forgetting, but instead not focusing on the past and looking towards where God is leading you.
Like Paul, you cannot change the past; that is history. But you can write the future, and God wants to lead you there! “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race!”
For many of you, reading this title immediately brings up an opinion. It might be an opinion influenced by optimism, as that is what you have tried to do for so long. For others, it might be an opinion influenced by pessimism. You might be saying, “Well pastor that is easier said than done.”
Regardless of what your opinion is on the past, regardless of what your experiences are in the past, good or bad, Paul gives us the blueprint for “running the race, pressing toward the goal, and receiving the prize” at the end.
In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says, “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.”
Now, you might be saying, “Pastor, you don’t know what happened in my past. You don’t know what I’ve done or what has been done to me.” And that is true, I might not. But do you know what Paul did? Paul KILLED Christians. He was a murderer. He hated those who followed God. And yet, God used him in some amazing ways.
Do you think Paul could have achieved all that he did and influenced all the people he did if was hung up on the mistakes of his past? I would say absolutely not. And the same goes for you. If you want to pursue the will of God, you must forget the past. This does not mean completely forgetting, but instead not focusing on the past and looking towards where God is leading you.
Like Paul, you cannot change the past; that is history. But you can write the future, and God wants to lead you there! “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race!”
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