Jump Start # 2434

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.”

In our last Jump Start we looked at a passage from Peter where some brethren had forgotten their purification from their sins. They forgot where they came from. There are some things that we should never forget. Remembering our blessings helps us to be thankful, appreciative and good stewards. In writing those thoughts, it occurred to me that there are some things that we do need to forget. Remember some things and forget other things.

Our verse today shows Paul forgetting what was behind. He chose to forget some things. This was not a bad memory, but rather a purposed mind. Some things we need to hold on to. Then there are things we need to let go of. Paul’s accomplishments as a Jew were no longer important to him. Who he was is not something that he wanted to hold on to. Now, it was a matter of who he is and where he was going.

There are some things that you and I need to forget:

We need to forget the hurts that others have caused us. Like a scab, as long as we keep remembering those things, we pick and pick and that wound never heals. We can forget a compliment but it seems we can remember the harsh things people have said to us. Some can remember, decades later, the mean things that some said to them. Some can remember church problems as if they happened last week, but they didn’t. They happened years ago. Every new face is told those sad stories. Over and over those things are remembered, retold, and relived. And, the sad truth is, many of those sad problems happened a generation ago. People got mad. Some left. Time moved on. People don’t really know or understand what the problems were, but they know they are not to like, accept, or fellowship those in that other group. A good ole’ fashioned memory loss would do a lot of good. It is here where children shine better than adults. Kids can get mad at each other and say the meanest things to each other. They can run to their rooms and slam the door and even verbally declare that they hate the other person. But in just a short while, those same children can be seen playing with each other again. Forgotten. Moved on. Better to play with someone than to play by yourself. Children are good at that. Adults can’t do that. We have to end relationships. Switch congregations. De-friend someone. Cut all ties and never, ever again be with that person. It would do good just to forget some things.

We need to forget our forgiven sins. That’s hard. Sometimes we wonder if we are forgiven and what’s holding us back is the fact that we can’t forgive ourselves. God can. Others can. Be we won’t. We remember. We feel like we do not deserve God’s blessings. We want our names removed from serving in the church, not for a short time, but forever. We feel second rate and second class. We continue to believe that God is angry with us. We refuse to believe that we are forgiven. We hold serious doubts in our minds about Heaven for us. Part of the problem here is refusing to trust and accept the grace of God. Part of the problem is demanding perfection in ourselves. Part of the problem is failing to see that God loves us and is ready to use us in His kingdom.

We need to forget many of the accomplishments we have made, even spiritually. Our progress ought to be evident to all, the Scriptures tell us. Growth opens doors for us. People ought to recognize the roles we play in teaching, leading and encouraging souls to the Lord. That’s all good. However, if we start listing all the good things we do, it sure sounds like bragging. And, bragging has a way of squeezing God out of the picture. The way some talk, you’d wonder how the kingdom survived this long without them. They’ve done this and they’ve done that. And, because of them the church has doubled in size. And, because of them more became elders. It seems to be that Paul planted and Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. The glory goes to God. Heaven remembers the cups of cold water that we have given to others. We don’t need to keep track and we certainly do not need to tell others. Bragging has a way of making it seem that I’m better than you are. That’s never the truth. I may do things you can’t, but you can do things that I cannot. And, together, neither one of us can do much without God’s help. The five and two talent men did what they did for the master. The talents belonged to him, not them. They were simply stewards and servants in the kingdom. And, that’s our roles as well. I knew this guy who preached his whole life. His work was always with a small group. From an outside perspective, it sure seemed like he wasn’t doing much. The group he worked with never seemed to grow. In our times today, we’d tell him to move on or do something else. The results simply weren’t there. However, this preacher is viewed as a great hero. His name happened to be Noah. THE Noah. Not much to brag about when it came to his preaching. Doubt if he were alive today that he’d be called to hold many meetings. Yet, he is among God’s hall-of-fame. Righteous. Obedient. And a man of faith. Holding a bunch of Gospel meetings doesn’t mean really anything. It doesn’t even mean a guy is good. And, how easy it is to compare the number of meetings, the size of the congregation, the number baptized as a measuring rod of success and a determination that one is better than others. God doesn’t do that. Do your work. Give it your best. Pour all your energies into what you are doing, but don’t be bragging to others about how much you have done. Just do it.

To forget is to let things go. It’s to not dwell on things. It’s to focus your attention elsewhere. It’s to direct your thoughts to where God wants them to be. Sometimes we just need to open the windows of our minds and toss out stuff that doesn’t belong there. It cutters our thoughts and fills our hearts with things that are not helpful. Forgetting what lies behind, as our verse tells us, is a choice. You can do that or you can decide to keep things right before your eyes.

Clutter in our homes ought to be pitched out as well as the cutter in our minds. It does good to forget some things.

Roger

Jump Start # 461

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.”

  We love this passage from the beloved Paul. It’s used in many settings today. Some view it as a motivational statement, but it’s much, much more than that. It defined his walk and his attitude in life. Paul continued to press on. There was more to be done. Heaven was near, but he wasn’t there yet.

  The phrase, “forgetting what lies behind,” is fascinating when you give it some thought. All of us have a story. We all have a past. We all carry baggage and we have to deal with issues including sins.

  Some never can move on from their past. Their past defines their present and limits their future. Paul didn’t let that happen. It was a choice, and he chose not to let that happen.

  I can only imagine could have raced through Paul’s mind as a preacher. Remember he spent quite a while chasing down Christians and was responsible for many going to prison and being killed. He felt he was doing right by stamping out the blasphemous cult that followed the false Messiah. He thought that. He was wrong. Now he was one of them. Now he was spreading the gospel. When people heard that Paul was in town, would any show up to hear him preach. Would they ridicule his sermon? Would Jews call him a traitor? Would the Christians forgive him? He may be preaching to a audience that had family members in prison because of what he did.

  Those kind of thoughts can cripple someone. Fear and worry can keep a person in bed all day. Two things happened. These same two things will help us. I don’t anyone reading this this morning has killed anyone, especially because of their faith, but we may have sent stares that were as sharp as daggers. Our words may have killed hope in someone. We may have walked away when we should have stayed, spoken out when we ought to have been quite. We thought it was the right thing to do, but differences and anger led us to do things we shouldn’t.

  First, Paul was forgiven by God. That’s the top of the list. We need that.

  Second, Paul forgave himself. He doesn’t seem to justify it or excuse his actions. But once God has removed the burden of guilt and the penalty of sin, Paul did the same to himself. Many a person would continue to beat themselves us, by saying, “I don’t deserve anything nice,” or, “let them find someone better than me to preach.” Not Paul. He forgave himself. That’s the hardest person to forgive, is ourselves. We can be gentle, forgiving to others, but we expect more of ourselves and we really have a hard time forgiving ourselves.

  Forgetting what lies behind. Does that mean Paul didn’t know what happened in the past? No. He didn’t dwell upon it. His mistakes were buried in an unmarked grave. He didn’t visit that grave and leave flowers, it’s gone. He was done with it, learned some powerful lessons, and was ready for God to use him because God trusted him. That’s what forgiveness will do. Paul had to trust himself.

  Now, there’s one more side to this “forgetting the past” business. Often we do well with it. It’s others that refuse to let us forget. They don’t think or won’t allow a person to change. They hold the broken past over them. With some sins, it may take a while for trust to be regained and restored, but some won’t allow that. One mess up and they put an asterisk by your name and your are forever known by that. People change. People change doctrinally. What they once believed, they may not anymore. Give them a chance. People change morally. People grow. People get stronger.

  Families have a tendency to not let go of the past. Get a group together and they start telling stories of the past, often the same stories, over and over. Some of those stories contain pain and guilt and shame. You have tried to move on, but they won’t forget the past. They remind you. They continue to blame you. They do not want you to move on as Paul did.

  That’s tough. It’s hard to deal with. I expect Paul had some of that in his day. It is mostly from people who refuse to forgive. They feelings turn to bitterness and anger and soon they are eaten up with this stuff. It bothers them that you are not bothered like they are. It bothers them that you have chosen to move on. What they don’t understand is forgiveness. That’s the key. Forgiveness from God and forgiving your self.

  Paul forgot the past…have you? Is it holding you back? Have you sought the forgiveness of God? Have you forgiven yourself? You can’t move on until you do.

Roger