Paul writes in Philippians 3:13c-14,"... 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." Paul, literally, turned his back on his past life to actively "press toward the mark". The "mark" was unknown territory, yet he pursued and desired to attain the "prize"... the award/reward offered in this life, but will be given in a public presentation at the Judgment Seat of Christ. His purpose, cause, reason, or motive was to reach an intended goal to bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we often allow our past lives to hinder our Christian walk and service for Christ... this is a great tool of the devil to discourage and defeat us, as believers. Discouragement causes us to lose our confidence in Christ and what He wants to do in, with, and through us... it causes our enthusiasm in our Christian service to dwindle, thus leading to a casualty or near casualty in life's battle. Our past is time gone by that cannot or never will be recaptured... no changes can be made in it... it is recorded, as/in history, whether good or bad.
We are instructed by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:7-8, "Casting (throw) all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary (enemy or rival) the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (consume with intense hunger):" Our care can be viewed as garbage... we bag the garbage and throw it away... it's out of sight; therefore, out of mind. We do not continually rummage through it, as though some prized possession is hidden there, neither should we allow it to stay around too long because it becomes stinky - it breeds worms, flies, bacteria, and can cause diseases... it becomes a cesspool of corruption. This should give us a vivid picture of how our dwelling on our past hinders our present/future Christian life and growth. It should open our "spiritual" eyes to how the devil wants to deceive and hinder us in our Christian walk. We must take assurance from what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This is a very definite and present fact of the Christ-life, so Christian... WE MUST PRESS ON!!!
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