There Is No Future In Reliving Your Past

There Is No Future In Reliving Your Past                          February 27, 2022

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” (I Timothy 1:12-16)

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of perfection yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.” (Philippians 3:13)

I believe it’s true when I say that each of us have a past in which at some point we said or did something we wish we hadn’t.  If only we could go back in time and change that moment of personal regret.  However, reality makes it quite clear that that will never happen.

Reality also teaches us that we have to move forward regardless of our past.  We can’t be successful in life by dwelling on our past.  Today is tomorrow’s past so if we change the way we think today then tomorrow’s past will be different than the one that has plagued us for years. 

In the two scriptures above the apostle Paul speaks briefly of his past but only to mention that with Christ’s help and forgiveness he was able to move on to a more meaningful and productive life.  Others would learn of God’s perfect patience and mercy through Paul’s past mistakes and people today can also benefit from your past mistakes when they see what God can do to change your life.

I know it’s impossible to forget the past especially when one lives under the consequences of those mistakes today.  But one thing that helped Paul forget the past was to be so busy and focused on what lies ahead.  He thought more on tomorrow than on yesterday.  And most importantly, He believed that God had forgiven him.  He also knew that God could make use of him to fulfill His will regardless of what he had or not done in the past.

Paul called himself the foremost (chief) of sinners.  What a past he had!  Homes and property were taken away from Christians because of him.  Some were imprisoned; others were killed.  Yet Paul was able to move on despite his past and enjoy his life to the fullest.  How about you?  Can you do the same?  Jesus Christ enabled Paul to live a meaningful life and He can do the same for you.  Remember this truth: Living in the past has no future.

Brian Thompson