Forget the Past :: Deeper Devotion

Forget the Past

February 24, 2009

by Tim Wade

Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.

When I was a kid I lived in Texas for the better part of four years in a nice three bedroom white house. It was here that we had a cat names Moses, another one later on named Aaron, and a ton of lizards - not by choice. I remember playing basketball in the backyard and kicking a soccer ball into the neighbor’s fence so many times that it nearly collapsed from all of the abuse. I also remember the weather being hot, especially our last summer before moving to North Carolina.

A block from the house was the elementary school that my younger brother and I walked to and from each day, for nearly four years. We would cut through the alley which would drop us out right in front of the main steps, and into the center of the building. Once inside you would jog a little to the right, down a small flight of stairs past the boy’s restroom, which would then lead you into a large room that tripled as a gymnasium - though it was never used for that - the cafeteria, and the school auditorium. Oh, what memories.

But none of this is real. Nothing that I just described to you really existed. You would be hard pressed to prove the house, the school, or the memories, for they tore down the school two years I left and moved to North Carolina. Ten years after that the house was condemned, and moved. All that is left now in either place are blank patches of brown Texas dirt. Everything is gone.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our sins are removed as far as the East is from the West. Our old nature is wiped clean, nothing of our former self exists, and we are new creations in Christ. You’d be hard pressed to prove who you were before Christ, now that your past in under the blood of the Lamb. Now the rest is up to you. You have not yet arrived at your final destination in Jesus. Your journey has only just begun. Now you must forget what lies behind, and reach forward to what lies ahead.

Anytime that Satan reminds you of your past, take a minute to remind him of his future.

Related Posts:

No Related Posts

I Ate My Love Letter (When Crushes Crush You)

April 11, 2008

Comments: [7]

It's so easy to crush. But is it right? Jeremy Smith shares about his high school crush and what he's learned.

From the Archives

The Lie About Beauty

Our culture is obsessed with looks. And like everyone else, we Christians have bought the lie.

Read all previous Articles.

Articles RSS Feed

Trial Marriages?
Aug 31, 2008 @ 06:01 am
8 Comments

What if I am Being Abused?
Aug 31, 2008 @ 11:34 am
17 Comments

Being Honest with Others
Aug 31, 2008 @ 09:59 pm
15 Comments

What’s Your Excuse?
Aug 31, 2008 @ 01:32 pm
6 Comments

What Does the Bible Say About Sex?
Aug 31, 2008 @ 06:57 am
64 Comments

Finding Peace

February 9, 2010

Comments: [0]

Regardless of your race, religion, or sex, you were born into this world lacking spiritual union with the Lord.

Read through previous Devotions.

Four Ways to Get Your Devotions

1. Subscribe via Email.

2. Subscribe to our RSS feed (RSS 2.0).

3. Subscribe using Facebook.

4. Subscribe to our podcast using iTunes or another podcast player.

How Will They Know?

April 5, 2007

This is a set of 5 devotions centered on the importance of missions and evangelism. How Will They Know is a great resource for short-term mission trips.
Download the free PDF

We offer many other downloads in our Resources section.

RSS Feeds

By Glenn Ansley, April 23, 2007

Read through previous Announcements.