The apostle Paul was no stranger to change. He undoubtedly had regrets about his part in the persecution of Christ-followers before he became a believer. He had memories of accolades from a life that no longer held its charm. He lost friends, a more comfortable way of life, and the status heâd known in his past. If anyone could have a reason to dwell on the past, it would be Paul. So how amazing it is that he wrote to the believers in Philippi:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by Godâs heavenly call in Christ Jesus. â Philippians 3:13â14 CSB
âForgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is aheadâ is an active disposition. Paul kept his eyes on the prize of faithfulness in Christ and chose to move toward that goal. For someone who had a whole list of things he could easily be distracted by, Paul stayed focused by deliberately choosing to pursue Christ wholeheartedly, actively moving forward instead of lingering on the past.
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So often the most burdensome meanderings of our minds keep us trudging through life like weâre walking in mud, stuck in a loop of what couldâve, shouldâve, or wouldâve been. What if, instead, the freedom we have access to through salvation in Christ is meant to propel us forward âunburdened by regrets, untangled from the nostalgia of the past, and purposeful in what lies ahead? What if I told you God has purposeful plans for your life that you canât even imagine right now?
You can honor the past and move forward in the present, friend. In fact, you need to move forward.
Obedience today doesnât mean pretending that yesterday never happened; rather, it determines to make the most of what is to come.
You and I donât need to dwell in regret, shame, or what could have been. We can keep our eyes on the prize of glorifying Christ with what we have and where we are now, in this precious life God has given us, today.
Forgetting the past and reaching, straining, or stretching toward what lies ahead is a grand vision, yes. But it begins with your very next step to look ahead and not behind. Iâve said it before, and Iâll say it again: Your someday is made up of thousands of right now's, so begin today.
Steward the next step and run toward living for Jesus.
The wild wonder of Godâs love is not merely that we are released from the weight of what we canât change or redo but that we are freed to hope in what is not yet. Be encouraged. So much more is yet to come.
