” FORGETTING THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD “
Part 2
(3) FUNCTIONING IN THE PRESENT! * Please notice v.13 again :
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
- A) Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,”
* Notice that Paul did not say, “one thing I will do.”
* He did not say, “one thing I’m going to do,”
* Or “one thing I will get around to someday.”
* He said, “one thing I do.”
B) Paul was living and acting in the present!
* Many people today try to live in the future.
* Do you know what the busiest day in the world is going to be?
* It’s not Christmas … It’s not the day after Thanksgiving … It is “someday.”
* Everyone in the world has something scheduled to do “someday.”
* You hear people all the time saying, “Someday, I’m going to do this or that …”
* The problem is that “someday” is not on any calendar.
* I’m sure that we’ve all made plans for “someday,” but the fact is, “someday” will never come!
C) Paul is the ultimate example of living each day to the fullest … Living each day as if it were your last!
* For example …….
* When he was imprisoned in Rome, he did not sit there stewing, thinking about all the things he would do when he got out of jail.
* He wrote letters to churches, sang praises to God, and even converted some of the people who had imprisoned him!
* Paul used every day to the uttermost.
D) Benjamin Franklin once said, “Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff that life is made of.”
* It was Abraham Lincoln who first said, “The leading rule for a man of every calling is diligence; never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
* That’s not my thinking all the time!
E) Perhaps, the saddest example of procrastination is found in the life of the Roman Governor Felix, who listened to Paul “speak about faith in Christ Jesus.”
Acts 24:24-27
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. NKJV
* But as he was discussing “righteousness, temperance and judgment to come,” Felix became frightened and said,
“Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient …”
- F) Never again did Felix listen to God’s Word!
* Once he had put it off for a time, as with so many things in life, that time never came.
* We all ought to be more like the psalmist, who wrote in
Ps 119:57-64
57 You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
NKJV
The Room by Joshua Harris
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”
The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.
An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.
I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.
“No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.
He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.
He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.
CLOSE
A) What if there were no church tomorrow because we were too busy to worship God today?
* What if God could not hear your prayers tomorrow because you were too busy to pray today?
* What if there were no Bible tomorrow because you would not read His Word today?
* What if there were no forgiveness tomorrow because you did not stop sinning today?
* What if there were no invitation tomorrow because you did not respond today?
B) As we embark on the journeys of this New Year, let us determine ahead of time that it will be a year of victory!
* Let us choose our own attitudes and follow the advice of the Apostle Paul.
* Resolve to … Forget your Past: Look beyond the sins and failures of yesterday; learn from them, repent of them, and then move forward.
C) Focus your Priorities: Place God at the top of your “to do” list every day!
* Worship Him … Study His Word … Put His Kingdom first in your life and everything else will fall into place!
D) Function in the Present: Stop living in the future!
* Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
* Invitation: Would you bow your heads and close your eyes for a moment?
E) This morning, the absolute best way to start this year is to become a part of God’s eternal Kingdom!
* Focus your priorities by making Jesus the Lord of your life … Allow the cleansing power of His blood to wash away your past sins, and start living your life for Christ everyday!
* The Bible says in
2 Cor 6:1-2
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
“In an acceptable time, I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation, I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
NKJV
* The invitation is open to all!
* If you are ready to be begin your life anew today … Or if you are already a Christian, but need a fresh start … The Lord invites you to please come!
