"Brothers, 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."
 
The life of a Christian is not static. It is in motion. It is true, our justification through faith in our Savior is complete. Nothing is lacking. But this is not true of our sanctification.
 
We begin our Christian course as newborn babes, fed with the sincere milk of the Word of God. But we are not to remain at that stage. God expects us to grow up into maturity of knowledge and faith and into those qualities which characterize the new life.
 
As we move into the future, we leave behind failures, sins which bring us haunting memories. These may be so prominent in our thought that . . .

"Brothers, 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."
 
The life of a Christian is not static. It is in motion. It is true, our justification through faith in our Savior is complete. Nothing is lacking. But this is not true of our sanctification.
 
We begin our Christian course as newborn babes, fed with the sincere milk of the Word of God. But we are not to remain at that stage. God expects us to grow up into maturity of knowledge and faith and into those qualities which characterize the new life.
 
As we move into the future, we leave behind failures, sins which bring us haunting memories. These may be so prominent in our thought that our eyes are practically fixed upon the past. The result will be that we become discouraged and frustrated, even though God ahs assured us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sin.
 
We are to look ahead, reaching unto those thins which are before. God Himself has given to us our objective. It is the pattern of love, holiness, and service contained in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of our Savior. As new creatures in Christ we are to follow after it. Our life is to be one of progress toward it, even though perfection will be ours only after we have passed through the veil of death into heaven.
 
Christian friends, don't dwell on your past. Grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. By faith walk with Jesus toward a fuller and more meaningful life.
 
      Look not back to yesterday,
      Full of failure and regret;
      Look ahead and seek God's way
      Sins confessed you must forget.