by AIC Timothy Espinoza
“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.”
Philippians 3:13-14
“Forgetting those things which are behind….” those words may come to your mind if your past is one of pain, or regret, or trial, then you are like me after reading these words you respond – gladly!
What commonality would a 40-year-old Hispanic prisoner in Oregon share with two young Ugandan orphans on the other side of the globe? Well, without asking my kids, Juliet and Jasper, I feel safe to say that we love this verse in God’s invitation.
For prisoners, the past conjures up tragedy, judgment, condemnation, banishment and brokenness in every way. For young orphan no doubt their memories are filled with tragic circumstances, confusion, sorrow, and heart numbing pain. No doubt there are more similarities than these and obviously an adult prisoner has only himself to blame while an orphan had nothing to do with their lot in life.
Knowing all my experiences, the words, “forgetting those things which are behind”, sounds sweet indeed, “yes gladly”, sounds like a fitting response. Yet, how would one go about it considering we all have these things called memory?
Limiting your view
I have a suggestion, “… reaching forward to those things which are,… then move! Yes, move from where you are and go forward! Being stationary limits your view and keeps you from experiencing what’s just around that next bend. In life were might be left to either worry or trust, but I’d much rather trust in God’s goodness and move out in faith, than sit around and wallow in the gloom of the tragic choices of the past. I think my sponsored kids would agree. Why sit around and mope when you can reach forward into a life of hope? The children of Otino Waa are world changers and world changers move!
Misfortune can overwhelm in an instant
Well, I don’t want to be overly simplistic. For those who have long been stationary, it might seem like an impossible task that can choke, paralyze and crush into bits one’s very soul. I’m well aware that misfortune can overwhelm in an instant and leave one in despair. Thankfully, I have yet another quote, “I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
There will be no darkness or no night
Pressing, straining, exerting oneself towards that goal. What goal? The goal of seeing God face to face and being at last in his presence for all eternity.
Are you in a season of tears? One day he himself will wipe them all away. Are you weary from long years of loneliness? He himself will ultimately satisfy. Does the world’s evil weigh upon your soul? There will be no darkness or no night.
And yet, we must press. God hasn’t promised pain free lives nor false words of comfort. There is evil in our fallen world and evil brings pain, probably darkness, but we must press on through it.
Forget we were ever orphans or prisoners
God’s good promises are many, but in essence, he’s promised his all-sufficient presence. He will be with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, but we must press on.
The more focused we become upon Jesus, the bad memories and circumstances of our past will fade, and we’ll soon forget we were ever orphans or prisoners, lonely or vexed by this life. Indeed, our smiles will be so large as we see the One who redeemed our tragedies and presents the prize we were after.
One day it will all be clear. The many whys we held onto here, will then be forgotten.