The Power of Change: Forget the Past
Why spiritual growth requires leaving both failure and success behind.
Wisdom Scripture
Acts 6:10 (NIV)
10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Wisdom Quote
Wisdom can be viewed as action-related, with the focus on conduct as a consequence of right perception—proper behavior in everyday life and capable workmanship. The sages often emphasize mastery of the tongue, the ability to remain silent at the proper time, self-control in daily life (restraint versus anger, humility versus pride, moderation in drinking, sexual ethics), prudence in everyday behavior (industry versus laziness, avoidance of evil), and familial solidarity. Thus wisdom has been defined as “the reasoned search for specific ways to assure well-being and the implementation of those discoveries in daily existence.”¹
Insights: Forget the Past
The Apostle Paul writes:
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 3:13–14
Once you decide that Jesus Christ is your life focus—your one thing—how do you pursue Him intensely and build His character in your life? Practically speaking, you press on by forgetting what is behind you.
Your past can hold you back in two primary ways: guilt over failures and complacency over past achievements. But your past does not dictate your future. If you had a painful childhood or made significant mistakes, you are not doomed. God can transform you in Christ by the power of the Spirit.
To win a race, a runner must focus on the goal without looking back at the competition. I am not a competitive runner, but I can get serious on the treadmill at the gym. I don’t know if you have experienced this embarrassment, but a few times I’ve been running at a manageable pace when a noise made me glance behind me. In an instant, I drifted to the side, missed my step, and flew off the treadmill. So embarrassing! I don’t even do well looking to the side—much less looking back. Good runners don’t look back.
What happened before is not an excuse for slowing down or dropping out. Forget the past with all its failures and successes—anything that could paralyze you with guilt or impede you with pride. To forget the past is to leave behind the sins that weigh you down with old guilt.
Memories of past sins can paralyze you, but Christ died for those sins. Do not insult the power of Jesus’ blood by suggesting it was not sufficient to cover them. It was.
Do not look back.
¹ Schnabel, E. J. “Wisdom.” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, 1993, pp. 967–968.
