Philippians 3:13
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.
Learning From Yesterday
I have learned more from my mistakes than I ever could have if things went smoothly, so I don’t fear making mistakes; however, I fear not learning from them. I consider my mistakes to be my best teacher, next to the Holy Spirit, of course. I cannot change what I did yesterday, but I can change what I do today or what I would do differently. What about you? Do you ever wish you would have done things differently yesterday? Are you going to change today by learning from yesterday? All we can do is press ahead, forgetting our mistakes except that which we can learn from them (Phil. 3:13). Does that make sense?
Pressing Ahead
Paul used his past as a springboard for the future. He pressed ahead and was able to press forward by forgetting what lay behind him while straining forward to what lay ahead (Phil. 3:13), much like a runner straining forward to reach the finish line. Lot’s wife looked back; however, it wasn’t for the purpose of learning from her past but yearning for it (Gen. 19:26). If we are following Christ, we will tend to be more like Christ every day, and with God’s Spirit, we can change today. Change is not possible until we first repent and trust in Him. Only then are we new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) and do we become the very righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). I use my past as a template for not repeating the same mistakes and growing from those experiences. Aren’t we blessed that we can make mistakes and even sin and God will cleanse us from them each and every time (1 John 1:9)?
All things New
I love what Isaiah wrote about the coming kingdom, that God will not remember the former things of old but is doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:18-19). That’s why it’s not wise to say the former days were better because there is no true wisdom in that (Eccl. 7:10) unless, of course, we learn from it. If I hear the word of God and don’t do what it says, then it’s like getting up in the morning and seeing I need to shower, shave, and comb my hair but walking away forgetting what I just saw (James 1:23-25).
A Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the forgiveness of my past mistakes because You show me that I can learn from them and that You are a forgiving God, One Who separates our sins from us as far east is from west (Psalm 103:12). For that I praise You and thank You in Jesus’ precious name.
Amen
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