Forgetting the Past
Philippians 3:8-14
Introduction
1.
Some things in the Bible make sense
the first time you see them; some things make sense on reflection; other things
only make sense when one looks back
2.
Faith in God means that we trust
Him in those things that do not make sense on first sight or even after
reflection
3.
Some of the most “positive
thinking” passages in the Bible are found in Paul’s letter written from
prison
Discussion
1.
“Forgetting what is behind”
a.
By forgetting, Paul is not
suggesting it should no longer be remembered, but that it should be disregarded
– see his comments in Acts 22 and 26, besides earlier in this chapter and in 2
Cor 11:22-12:9
b.
Verses 7 and 8 substantiate this
view; things of the past are to be considered “dung” or “loss”
c.
The past is a burden too great to
bear – it needs to be discarded on the “dung heap”
2.
“One thing I do”
a.
Everyone has a “one track mind”
– the key is: on what track are
you running?
b.
It is good to abstain from evil on
your “one track,” but abstaining from evil is not good enough
c.
The question is:
What is it that you consider important above everything else?
d.
Consider the case of Mary and
Martha – Luke 10:38-42
e.
The “Sermon on the Mount” is
filled with teaching to help us determine the track on which we should be
running
f.
Consider Paul on his last trip up
to
g.
This decision led to the
imprisonment from which he wrote the letter to the Philippians!
3.
“I press on toward the goal”
a.
The road of life is cluttered with
the debris of those who began and did not finish
b.
Consider the hiker who views the
mountaintop across the valley, but never reaches that peak
c.
Consider the example of Solomon who
“forgot” where he was going – compare 1 Kings 3:7-9 as he acknowledges his
dependence on God and the message of Ecclesiastes where he declares “all is
vanity.”
Conclusion
1.
There is a temptation to live in
the land of “what if . . .”
2.
There is a temptation to live in
the land of “when I …”
3.
What God has given you is
“today”