Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead . . . (Philippians 3:13)
Fire can be used to both build and destroy; memories will do the same. What you remember about your past can be used by God to build you up . . . or used by Satan to take you down. Some memories will bring you pleasure and others pain. That is why you must treat your past like a school: Learn the lesson that God has for you, but don’t live there. Use your past as a springboard into your promised future, not as a sofa to sleep on. Living in “If only I had done it differently“ will prevent you from living in the moment you have right now and keep you from being what God is calling you to be.
When you read through the Bible, you see just how faithful God is to His people, especially when they have been unfaithful to Him. You see, it is God’s faithfulness to you, not your faithfulness to Him, that keeps you secure in your saving relationship. God has never failed His people, no matter how badly they treated Him . . . and He will never fail you. When you treat your past as a springboard that propels you into His Spirit-filled future for you, you make it clear that you are fully trusting in God to use even your dumb decisions, damaging detours, and disastrous dead ends for His glory and your ultimate good.
Christian, your past does not equal your future. It is the devil who wants to remind you of your past and fill you to overflowing with regrets, fears, doubts, and hopelessness. The devil knows he cannot take you out of the hands of your Lord, but he sure can mess up your life along the way into glory, attacking you with gnawing guilt and relentless remorse.
But this is not for you! Choose to look to Jesus, listen to Jesus, and lean on Jesus, because He has promised that He will never leave you or forsake you, no matter what you do. Remember, God is not finished with you yet. You are a work in progress, and along the way you will mess things up. When you do, just keep looking to the One who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Allow God to use your past as a springboard, and He will take every setback and use it as a set-up for your cosmic comeback.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 