Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes going forward for God requires us to "press". Its not always easy to "press," but it will be well worth it. But in order to move forward we must get our eyes off if the rear view mirror and must focus on the direction we are going. The Psalmist wrote that "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life", notice the word follow. God's goodness and mercy got us through yesterday's trial, test, and circumstance; so surely it can get us though tomorrow. So those things that are buried under the blood, those things that God's goodness and mercy got us through should be forgotten! In time past our goals may have been different, our attitude may have been sour, our outlook may have been bleak. But NOW is what matters most.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
See yesterday is over, today is all that matters! If we get caught looking in the rear-view mirror, we will begin to condemn ourselves. If we get stuck in yesterday we will begin to lose our direction and our desire to move forward. You see...
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This is why we should be so excited because where we are now, not concerned with where we have been. We shouldn't be proud of the sins we committed in times past, we shouldn't share them with the generation coming up. We should be excited about where God has brought us to, and every time we hear someone preach against the very sins we may have once been entrapped with we should get excited that someone is warning the next generation not to take the road we took. If we can no longer be condemned by the sins of yesterday, then why would we try to justify them? If God forgave us, lets forgive ourselves, and be the first to stand beside the preacher when he preaches against the sins that once controlled our lives.
The Church preaches against:
Divorce
Homosexuality
Fornication
Murder
Stealing
Lying, and the list goes on and on
Some of these very things have been committed in times past, before Christ, in some people's lives that are now apart of the church. These things the church preaches against aren't preached against to condemn anyone or anybody, only to warn the generation to come and teach them how to be pleasing to God. Why would we that once committed some of these wrongs have any issue against them being preached against in the church? Only when we look in the rear-view mirror! But if we would just accept that we are a new creature and accept that God doesn't condemn nor does his ministers, we would be the first to say, AMEN!!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
See we show should forth praise to God for bringing us out, there's no greater way to show your thanks than through warning the generation to come not to take the same path. Sure it may take us swallowing our pride, but that's not hard when we don't look in the rear-view mirror and realize we are new creatures in Christ!
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Let's move forward, looking forward! Because it's hard to drive looking in the rear-view mirror!
Look Forward!! Forgetting those things behind!
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Bro. C
Acts 2:38, obey it!
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