“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.” (Philippians 3:13-14 The Living Bible)
Have you ever noticed how professional basketball players refer to each other by the first initial in their first name and the first initial in their second name? For instance, if I was a professional ball player, a good one, they would call me “MK.” Let’s copy this way of referencing to others in this Sunday morning meditation. I’ll keep it short because I know you are going to be heading out soon to your local church to hear a word from the Lord and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Right? (You should be shaking your head, seriously, in the affirmative to that quick question.)
Let’s continue. In the above verses “AP” (Apostle Paul) inspires us to look forward and not backward, regardless of our failings, and forging down the wrong path earlier in life, or even finding success in our endeavors for the Lord. We must still press on. Don’t rest on our laurels. Don’t remorsefully dwell on our failings for which we have been forgiven. But press on, further inspired by what Jesus did for us.
“BS” (Brandon Smith) uttered these words that I thought I should insert: “Never look back at your past; everything happens for a reason. Keep your head up and look forward. The more you look back, the more beautiful things you will miss in life.” – Brandon Smith
In one of our three, weekly Bible Study classes, “MB” (I’ll with hold his name in confidence, even though he knows that I write about what I hear and see. And surely, he knows about my tee-shirt that says, “Be careful what you say and do. I just might write about it.”); MB, after studying David’s penitential Psalm, Psalm 51, shared these words of wisdom, “If you spend time looking back, you can’t move forward.” He was obviously moved by David seeking God’s mercy to give him a new, cleaned, forgiven start, and them seeking, moved by a created new heart, to go forward serving the Lord. In so many words “MB” was reminding us that after we mess up, make up, and move forward in our work for the Lord.
Let “MK,” yours truly, add something here. The tempter will try to lure you back to your past failings. He will try to convince you that your badness is still a burden to weigh you down. Don’t be convinced! Instead, go forward, forgiven, cleansed, looking ahead, and keep climbing. Sustain the momentum! Stay God-conscious, Christ-centered, and committed to the climb.
Look forward, not backward. Yet, if you do look backward, look at the graciousness of God that was shown toward you! Look at the mercy He poured out on you! Look at the goodness of God. Remember, there is no badness that is so bad, that God’s goodness can’t fix. Have a great worship service experience today! Be part of the heaven-to – pulpit and pulpit – to – pew and pew – back- to – pulpit dynamics. Wow! I think I just said something! My friend, “Be blessed!”
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.” (Psalm 51:10-15 Modern English Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King (MK)