Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Well, it is once again that time of year when we bid adieu to the previous year and say hello to the new one. I am sure for you, like the rest of us, 2024 had its share of ups and downs, victories and defeats, joys and sorrows, etc. Time is a funny thing for human beings. Part of the time we want to hurry it away as in the painful periods of our lives or the times we have some big milestones we want to hurry and achieve. Other times we wish we could slow it down such as when we look up and our babies are no longer babies, or when old age begins to set in on us. I am sure you can think of any number of similar manipulations we attempt on time, all to no avail. In this first discussion of 2025, we will ponder the proper and healthy Christian response to the past with special interest in the need to leave the past where it lay.
To be sure, yesterday holds many valuable lessons for us that we must carefully consider, some from our experiences and some from the recorded experiences of others (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 3:7-4:11). This is not a call to discard the memories of yesteryear. What we are particularly concerned about in this discussion is our tendency to dwell on the things of the past to the point that such impedes our efforts to live as we ought to live in the present. Some of us struggle with wrongs done or difficulties faced in the past creating bitterness, anxiety, fear, and a host of other hindrances to faithfulness. Others of us may tend to think so much of our past victories that we fail to grow as we should. Neither of these are viable options.
Paul was a man with a strong pedigree in Judaism. He had all the bona fides to call himself a Jew of Jews: proper birth, circumcision, zeal for the law, blamelessness among his peers, etc. (Philippians 3:1-6). However, when confronted by the Lord on the road to Damascus, he learned that his zeal was misplaced as he was fighting against God, not for Him (Acts 9). For this, he referred to himself as the chief of sinners, least of the apostles, etc. (1 Corinthians 15:8-9; 1 Timothy 1:12-15). Both elements of Paul’s life named above could have become an impediment to him had he not viewed his history through the proper lens.
He understood that neither his past victories nor his past indiscretions defined him any longer. Sure, they shaped him, but they did not define him. When Paul saw the light on the road to Damascus, he decided to leave his past where it lay, take the lessons it had to offer, and spend the rest of his life in pursuit of the Lord Christ (Philippians 3:7-14).
Paul concluded his discussion about leaving the past where it lay saying, “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…” (Philippians 3:15). As the Hebrews writer put it, the child of God must lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnared him to run his race unencumbered (Hebrews 12:1-3). If you are trying to carry yesterday with you in your race towards heaven, please reconsider and drop those unnecessary burdens at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Like Paul, forget the things that are behind, reach for what lies ahead, and press towards the prize (Philippians 3:13-14). Then and only then will you be able to give proper attention to the task of faithful living at hand. Leave the past where it lay and live for Him today.