Letting Go...

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do..forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"

Forgetting those things which were behind him..and reaching forth to the things which were ahead..that was the life of Paul.

Paul had reason to look back and feel sorrow, shame, and even guilt. Acts 8:1 says that Saul was consenting (or giving his approval) to the stoning of Stephen..Stephen was a man of God, full of faith and power, according to Acts 6:8. In the very next chapter of the book of Acts, Saul is journeying toward Damascus when suddenly a light shines round about him from heaven..and the Lord Himself begins to speak to Saul. I have focused so often over the years on those words.."Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." That particular phrase means simply that Saul (who later became Paul) was only hurting himself in his actions of rebellion against God...but the most startling statement from Christ Himself comes next..when He simply tells Saul to "Arise"..The Lord gives Saul specific instructions where to go, and Saul arises and follows the Lord's instructions. From that time on, Paul was a changed man. he was no longer Saul, the one who persecuted God's people, the one who had been so proud of his heritage, the one who gave his approval in the stoning of Stephen. He was now Paul, the one who was God's chosen vessel (Acts 9:15), the one who would bring the message of the gospel to the gentiles, the one who despite many trials and much suffering for Christ's name's sake, arose..went forward, and followed Christ.

I wonder if it was difficult for him to not look back, and dwell on what he had been part of with Stephen, and countless others. If he had not arisen, as Christ instructed him, if he had not gone forward, the New Testament as we know it, wouldn't exist..at least, it's writer wouldn't have been Paul. We might not see some of the incredible writings that we have come to know, love and hide in our hearts over the years of our walk with God.

I think sometimes about Lot's wife, looking back to the city of Sodom, and turning into a pillar of salt. I believe that there is some significance to the fact that she literally turned into a pillar of salt, and I am not sure what that is..if anyone knows, please email me..but the point is, she looked back. She looked back at the old life, and where she had been, and what she had come from..and it definitely affected her future. If you have time, read that passage in Genesis 19. Earlier in the passage, the angel of the Lord had spoken the same thing to Lot that he spoke to Paul...Arise!

Beloved, I believe that there is a message of hope in this that we need to see for our own lives today. I have seen with my own eyes, the precious people of God, literally "stuck"..in the past...unable to go forward..when in fact, God is saying, "Arise"..When you are His child, you do not have to live in the past..Jesus has already carried your guilt, and your shame. You don't need to carry that heavy load any longer. Ray and I have stressed this very point to the young men we've visited in the prison system for years..God not only loves you..but He has a purpose for you. He has a plan for your life. He wants you to go forward. He has need of you. Imagine once again, if Paul had stayed stuck in the past..and imagine now for a moment what the future might be for you, if you could simply let go of the past. Not one of us can walk forward and backward at the same time. It just can't be done. Paul knew this. He knew that in order to fulfill the call of God on his life, he would have to forget those things which were behind him, and he would have to press forward, toward the mark of the high calling of God in his life.

Beloved, there is a high calling in your life as well. The Lord loves you, just as He loved Paul. He wants you to be free of the things that may have held you captive. Today, I believe that he would say to you, as he said to Paul..Arise! Stop right now and drop the heavy load that you have been carrying. Give it to Jesus...and then begin to walk forward..no looking back at your past failures. Keeping your eyes on the things you have failed at, will be like tying a chain around your soul..it will keep you held prisoner, when in fact, you have been set free. Keep your eyes on God, beloved...that you may know Him, as Paul said. Arise! Go forward. Press in to Jesus. Trust Him. Plant yourself firmly in Him..and don't look back. You go girl!