The new year is upon us. In just a little more than two days, we will bid "so long!" to 2011, and "welcome!" to 2012. We need to make the most of the time we are given. As Christians, we need to take every opportunity to renew ourselves in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This can only happen as we look ahead, with our eyes firmly focused on the prize which is Jesus Christ and His Glorious Kingdom! Let's look at what some verses of scripture have to say on our Christian obligation to look ahead.
In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul says , "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Paul understood how to overcome his past before he even completely understood the fullness of the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul says he is forgetting what is behind (mistakes, regrets, bad decisions) and instead is STRAINING toward what is ahead. He is pressing on towards the goal which is Jesus Christ. It's hard work as is evidenced by the fact that he is straining and pressing forward. It's hard to let go, but Paul knows that he must. He is called to more. He is called to the future promises of Jesus Christ. Yesterday is done, we must move forward towards our goal.
In Luke 9:62 Jesus says this, "Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." This is a wonderful illustration our Lord uses. Think about a farmer plowing his fields. He starts at one end, looking at the other end he finds a tree or a post to use as a target, and then sets his course, making nice, even rows as he goes. In order to do this, the farmer must keep his eye forward. Could you imagine the mess the field would be in if a farmer plowed and looked behind himself rather than forward? It would result in a poorly plowed field and an utter waste of time. In this instance, the fertile field is the kingdom, the plow is the gift of Salvation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we are the farmer. Once we take hold of the plow, once we take hold of our new image in Jesus Christ, we cannot look back. We must move forward in our knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. Our focus must always be forward.
Lastly, in Hebrews 6:1 it says, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,". What this is saying is "Stop saying you're sorry for what you have already been fogiven for!" Too often we apologize for the same thing over and over. We are stuck, unable to accept the forgiveness that we are given in Christ Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says it plainly, stop laying the foundation of repentance again. We are supposed to move on and grow in maturity. Not stay the same, not relive the good old days, we are supposed to leave elementary teachings behind and go on to maturity. We are supposed to grow, and we cannot grow while we are stuck in the past.
I had a friend of mine tell me once that the word DEVIL spelled backwards is LIVED, because the devil only lives in your past. 2012 is almost here, approach this year with a heart for Jesus Christ. Resolve to make this the year to forget the past, grow in spiritual maturity and press on towards the goal which is Jesus Christ. Have a happy and blessed new year and stay close to Jesus.
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