Christian Perspectives – looking forward

July 23, 2015 · 0 Comments

In his letter to the Christians at Philippi, Paul thanked them for the gift they had sent. He also tried to strengthen them by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone.
But in chapter 3 it is interesting to note his words. “But I keep working toward the day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”
When Paul talks about “forgetting the past’ there are many things in his past he might have been referring to. A quick look back in his life would find a good man who was very religious. His intentions and efforts were sincere. He was a Pharisee who knew the Bible and sincerely believed that the Christian movement was dangerous to Judaism. Because of that Paul hated the Christian faith and persecuted Christians without mercy.
Paul got permission to travel to Damascus to capture Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem. It was on this journey that Paul personally met Jesus Christ and his life was never the same.
Paul had much in his past that might have weighed heavily upon him and distracted him.. But his words tell us he was forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
This message is a message we as Christians can take hold of today in our walk with Christ. There may be many things in our past that could hold us back or slow us down. These could be things that happened before we became a Christian or they could even be things that have happened after we came to Christ.
One thing is for sure, Satan would like nothing better than to have us slowed down or stopped by our remembering weaknesses and deeds from the past that we would like to forget. Someone once said “hindsight is the best foresight”. We can learn from our past but than we must move ahead.
The only way we can forget the past is to focus on the future. Because our hope is in Christ we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on your past. Instead grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. Keep in mind God has many things that He would like to accomplish through you.
Paul also writes “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Jim Rintoul
Bethel Bible Chapel
Shelburne