Focus on the Future

Chuckle: Whose bright idea was it to put an "s" in the word 'lisp?

Quote: "The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming." --Henry Blackaby

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead" (Philippians 3:13 NLT).

Today, a prevalent thought is that the dominating influence in our lives is what happened in our past. If you grew up in an abusive home devoid of love and wholesome influences, those experiences will determine the course of your life. There is no doubt that devastating experiences in our past can create severe emotional problems which must be dealt with, sometimes requiring professional help. However, it seems the world is preoccupied with the past -- perhaps because the world faces such an uncertain future. As Christians, we should focus on the glorious future God has promised to us.

Paul had every reason to want to forget his past. He was a chief persecutor of the early Christians and had even held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr. We all have things in our past which we would rather forget and we live in a state of tension between what we have been and what we want to be. But, as Christians, we must realize that Christ has overcome our past and has given us the freedom to become the persons he wants us to be.

"What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). God has forgiven your sins of the past and chooses not to remember them anymore. Because of this truth, we should not forget our past; but we should never let our past be a controlling force in our lives. Things are new and different now.

Instead of dwelling on the past, press on toward the future by growing in your knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Jesus Christ right now. Realize that you have been forgiven, and then press on to a life of faith and obedience. Focus on the future and a more meaningful and fulfilling life because of your hope in Jesus Christ. Like Paul, our desire to be more like Christ should cause us to use all our energies toward that end.

If you can't shake your preoccupation with your past, ask our Heavenly Father to reveal anew the beautiful and amazing future that awaits you, and in faith keep pressing on toward that reality.

Love, Jerry & Dotse