Reading: Psalm 147:11; Philippians 3:1-14
"There it is! There's the lighthouse!" These were the words of my very excited girls as we approached St. Marks Lighthouse. For New Year's, my husband decided to take us on a family outing to the lighthouse. The girls had seen the lighthouse before and were excited about the visit. As we traveled, they eagerly searched for the lighthouse. When it came into view they could hardly contain their excitement.We started walking down the trails enjoying the scenery that we had experienced many times. I looked back at the lighthouse from the exact spot in which this photo (used here) was taken. My thoughts immediately went back to our Sunday School class on Sunday. We were studying Philippians 3:1-14 and discussing how we have to keep pressing toward the goal and not look back. A member of the class, who is an avid runner, explained, "There is only one thing that a runner accomplishes by looking backward and that is slowing down." I thought about how that statement is so true for almost every aspect of life. And as I looked up at that lighthouse visions of how a sailor would appreciate the statement went through my head. Looking back and not forward toward the light of the lighthouse would make a sailor confused and slow them down or worse get them off course all together.
So is the same in life. We spend valuable time looking back over our lives and focusing on what is behind us instead of focusing on our goal. We get wrapped up in the bad and good things of our life saying, "I can't go forward, look at how bad my life has been." Does this sound familiar to you? Do you have bad circumstances in your past that Satan has used to keep you down and keep you from advancing toward Christ? Are you looking back at the circumstances of your past and telling yourself you can't go foward? Are you allowing your past to slow you down? If so, I want you to know that the Lord delights in you. He loves you dearly and even though He doesn't condone our sins, He does forgive His children for them.
As we begin 2008, our goal should be as Paul has advised - to press toward the goal of Christ. I pray that this year you will never look back. Put your hope in God's unfailing love and keep your eyes on His light, Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to keep my focus on Your light, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Guide me in forgetting about the past so I will continue to advance in Christ. This I pray in Your Son's Name. Amen
