Sneaky Sins, Part Two

Underestimating the Sneaky Sin of Looking Backward

Stop looking back. I want you to stop looking back. Instead, embrace today and look ahead. Most of the teaching in the New Testament is about the sanctification of the believer. That’s a big Bible word, but it simply means to “function as designed.” A pen is “sanctified” when used to write.

You cannot function properly when you are constantly looking over your shoulder. You were not made that way. The Apostle Paul had many regrets. However, he learned that he could not function correctly unless he looked ahead. Take a look at what he says in his letter to the believers living in Philippi:
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ESV

Learning How to Move Forward

Let’s look at how Paul was able to look forward even though he had many regrets for arresting and persecuting Christians.

1. He chose to forget anything in his past that caused him to be dysfunctional.

Remember, God’s will for our lives is to be sanctified – function as designed. Sometimes we are unable to move ahead because we live in the past. We live in the past because we have not received God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness is a two-way street. There is the forgiver and the person who desires to be forgiven. You may be willing to forgive someone and that is good for you. But they cannot receive your forgiveness if that’s not what they want. If you desire forgiveness, ask this of God and he will forgive you.

If you need to forgive yourself, do it. As weird as it seems, admit to yourself your need and desire to forgive, than do it. Frankly, I think this happens at the same time you seek forgiveness from God. In order to seek forgiveness, you must see your need for it, which is an admission of guilt. When you receive forgiveness by faith, you are forgiven. It’s done; move on. But if you’re still struggling with forgiving yourself, I don’t think you have consciously received it from God.

2. Then he applied what he learned.

Paul said he strains forward. I like the word strain because it describes the reality of the human condition. Moving ahead involves forgetting. Forgetting is not about pretending something did not happen, it is about not allowing the failure to stop you from moving up. In fact, it is about letting God teach you how to use the failure as a step of grace to a higher level of living.

The way our past is redeemed is to allow God to miraculously turn failure into humble wisdom and strength. Instead of disqualifying yourself, realize the Lord has you right where he wants you, moldable and shapeable. You are now clay in his hands and he makes wonderful pottery!

Here’s what you need to do.

Deal with your past failures by confessing your need to be forgiven. Go to God and go to anyone else you have failed. Receive forgiveness from those who will extend it but be assured God will forgive you. Seek forgiveness today or as soon as you can. If you delay, your heart will grow hard and the time will pass.

Second, do not forget your past in the sense of hiding it away. Forget your past in the sense that it is not useful. Because you have been forgiven, it has been redeemed and has become useful. The past failure will now make you more functional – sanctified. Forget it as a black spot and let God make it a bright spot. He even uses our failures to make us better.

Until next time,
Jim