The theme of this issue’s PCC Scroll is “Reaching Forward.” One of the most familiar scriptures about reaching forward is found in Philippians 3:12-14.
We are all works in progress. Regardless of our pasts or what our futures may hold, we are continuously being perfected. And we will continue to be perfected until the end of our days. Paul is a great example. When he wrote the letter to the Philippian church, he had already accomplished a lot. But he was humble about his achievements because he knew there would always be more work to be done. He was also able to accept the imperfections in his past because he was constantly striving to reach his call and destiny in Christ. He was reaching forward.
It is easy to reach back and dwell on the past. In this state, you continue to beat yourself up and punish yourself over past mistakes, sins, disappointments, and failures. This doesn’t do anything but make you feel bad about yourself. Truthfully, we all make mistakes every day, but they should become learning experience as we continue to reach forward for our prize.
And it’s easy to constantly condemn people for their past mistakes, sins, disappointments, and failures against us, but this doesn’t do anything either. Continuing to pick at scabs and old wounds just interferes with the healing process. It holds the offender a prisoner to their past, and it holds us a prisoner to our pain.
In all honesty, what good does dwelling on the past do? It won’t change anything. Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward is a choice we have to intentionally, continuously make. We can continue to let the voices of condemnation and ridicule hold us anchored and chained to the past, or we can reach forward to the future with the confidence that any mistake, sin, disappointment, or failure will work out for our good. We can believe the Word of God when it tells us there is therefore now no condemnation for us.
Do you have a past filled with mistakes, sins, disappointments, and failures? You are in good company. David was an adulterer who put the woman’s husband in the frontline of battle. Paul was responsible for the persecution and killing of Christians. Jeremiah struggled with depression and doubt. Despite their mistakes, sins, disappointments, and failures, they loved and trusted God. They did not get stuck in their mistakes, sins, disappointments, and failures. They looked and reached forward and did great works for God.
It’s cliché, but, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!” You can forget those things which are behind and reach forward to your destiny in Christ. Whatever lies before you is much better than what you leave behind. You can face the future with this confidence in Christ.
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