“John 3:16.” “Romans 8:32.” “Psalm 23.” These are some of the responses that you may receive when you ask a believer what their favorite scripture is. Certain scriptures have a special meaning for us. It may be a passage that reveals the love of God, tells a moving story about forgiveness, or shares a faith-building word about prayer.
My answer to that question would be Philippians 3:13, 14. “...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.” (KJV)
This scripture reminds me not to look back at my past sins, whether committed before or after salvation. I am comforted in the fact that they are under the blood of Jesus, never to rise up in judgment against me. Therefore, I am not allowed to experience guilt or feel condemned. Since I have confessed these sins and repented of them I am exhorted by the Word now to “Go forward!”
As a pastor, many times I’ve had people say, “But pastor, you don’t know what I’ve done.” I respond by saying “I don’t and I don’t have to know.” All that matters is that we confess our sins to God and repent of them. (Of course, if the sin was serious and especially if it was committed by a church leader then it needs to be dealt with. But that’s when a restoration process begins).
If we have confessed and repented of our sins we need to go forward. We need to stop beating ourselves up and rid ourselves of the guilt and condemnation. We must not let the devil or anyone lay a guilt trip on us and condemn us. Looking back will not allow us to be of service to the Lord and His church. I don’t know of any scripture that exhorts us to “Look back or stand still” in the matter of our sins and failures.
I encourage you to confess your sins, repent of them, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!”
“Life's greatest tragedy is not to fall down, it's to stay down. The greatest disaster in life is not to fail, it's to park there, and say 'What's the use?'” Rowland Croucher www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink/forum/life.html
