Passed the Past

BORN AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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” (Philippians 3:12-13 NIV).

Everyone has a past. Even the youngest with no recollection of their beginnings have life experiences and learning moments that shape their future direction. Everyone has a story. Some have more tragic events than most, while others seem to lead a charmed life with few dark days and more positive outcomes. Regardless of our good fortune or cursed condition, we are all born into a world of sin, and it doesn’t take long to be contaminated by our surroundings. 

This was the world into which Christ was born. Jesus came intentionally, with a defined purpose, to provide an escape from the scars of our present condition. According to Luke, Jesus came, “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ). He came to confront our past and give us a future quite different than the one we were heading towards. 

Jesus came to bring the hope of new life, transformation, and freedom from our past mistakes. He plans to make each of us a new person. Paul wrote, “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

Through Christ we can truly let the past be passed! There is no reason to dwell on the failures of yesterday, but rather to embrace the future God has planned for us. Paul recognized that the real prize was still ahead, in our future. Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NIV). 

That drawing Spirit is God’s mercy. The promise of better things pours out of His heart of grace. We have a future and a hope because He came to make us free! Let the past be passed. Let’s press on toward the future He has designed for us! 


Theme passage:
"… Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)