Did you sit on that bench? 

Did you eat in that restaurant? 

Did you ever see a movie in that theater?

These (and hundreds more like them) are the types of questions I get asked whenever my husband and I travel back to the area of the country where I was raised.  For years, he’s exhibited a sincere hunger to want to know every little detail about my past.  It makes him feel, to a small degree, like he now shares those particular experiences with me.

Precious, isn’t it?  It is to me now; however, it used to be quite frustrating because I am the extreme opposite. 

I don’t like looking back.  I’m a put-the-pedal-to-the-metal kind of gal. I actively want to move forward; to progress; to advance. 

My children tease me on a frequent basis because I seemingly have a crippling inability to recollect events they deem as important.  It’s in the past.  Door closed.  Let’s move on.

These examples have as much to do with personality differences as anything else.

However,  I’ve also come to the realization more and more as I walk with God that there’s not much about my past that I really want to revisit.  It’s littered with sin, bad choices, and lots of personal carnage.  I prefer to look forward knowing that God’s sanctifying work in me means the best is yet to come.

Paul encouraged some New Testament disciples along the same line.  “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind, I reach forward to what is ahead…” (Philippians 3:13)

Paul knew what He used to be before God got ahold of him – a staunch persecutor of Christians and Grade-A Pharisee (see my recent post, “Perfection, Pride, and Pharisees”).  He referred to himself later in Scriptures as the “chief of sinners” (I Timothy 1:15).  Paul knew what was in his past.  He referenced it when it was necessary and helpful but didn’t dwell on it.

His testimony became a call to press forward.  Move on.  Don’t look back.  The best is ahead.

Sure, we all have some memories we could put on a highlight reel that would make us smile (and those are wonderful and should be cherished).  But, when it comes to the heart and the work that God is doing in us, let’s look forward, forget what is behind, and reach to what is ahead!

Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks…seize the day.” (Luke 9:62 MSG)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!