forgetting what is behind... | fukkboii's Blog

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind [the past] and straining (exert to the utmost) toward what is ahead [the future], I press on toward the goal to win the prize [the goal] for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). What a beautiful attitude! Paul harbored no grudges or offences. He let bygones be bygones. “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalms 119:165).

Paul went on to say in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This is God’s “positive thinking course.” In other words, with God’s help, we can “reprogram” our thinking—we can erase and replace! We can leave the past behind.

We all have a journey ahead. And the goal of our life’s journey should be to win the prize—the Kingdom of God! Anyone who enters a contest of any sort does so with the goal of winning. In this “game of life,” our goal should be the same—to win the prize at the end of the race! Those who run in a marathon race must sometimes sacrifice blood, sweat, and tears. But the prize—eternal life in the Kingdom of God—is well worth it all.

If we are going to press on to obtain the prize, we’re going to have to turn our backs on the past and leave some things behind. Hebrews 12:1 commands, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

While some weights, sins, or handicaps may be easier to recognize and overcome than others, we are to throw off every sin, which includes attitudes of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, worry, anxiety, and fear. All these things have to go.

First Peter 5:7 says we are to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” In addition to throwing off sin, the Bible tells us to throw off everything that hinders us from running our race. This lightens our load considerably, enabling us to continue and endure to the end (Matthew 24:13). There may be some things we are holding on to that aren’t necessarily sin, but they are weighing us down and holding us back nonetheless. That’s what the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread are all about: casting all our sins upon Him, casting the weighty anchor of sin out of our lives.

In the natural, it’s impossible to run a good race while carrying a heavy load on your back. Runners want to be as lightweight as possible. They don’t carry things with them, and some even wear specially made lightweight shoes and clothing to help them run faster.

Think for a moment. What have we been carrying around? What have you been carrying around? Have you been offended? Get over it. Have you been wronged? Take it to Jesus. In truth, one of the hardest things we have to leave behind includes the pride of our past accomplishments. Sometimes we want recognition for things we have done in the past and carry these accomplishments with us and wear them as a medal or trophy, so to speak. But the truth is, without God we could not have done anything! Conversely, Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

In the Christian life, there is no place for people to rest on their laurels. Paul is saying, in effect, that the Christian must forget all that he has done and remember only what he must still do.

No one ever accomplished anything while living in the past. “You can’t drive forward while looking in the rearview mirror,” a wise man once said. How true! If you want to accomplish a thing get your eyes on the prize—the goal—and strain forward to what’s ahead. God has forgiven and forgotten your repented of sins. Upon our heartfelt repentance, God says, “’Come now, let us reason together’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18). He repeats his promise of forgiveness in Isaiah 44:22, “’I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.’” Who are we to harbor resentment over someone else’s repented of sins? Although God is addressing physical Israel in context, the same promise filters down to all men individually. Do you believe God? Then take Him at His word! Forgive—and forget. When a friend—or a brother—makes a mistake, don’t rub it in. Rub it out. Men with clenched fists can’t shake hands. Give that list of offences to the One who can destroy it forever.

We all need to forget the past and become focused on the future.