I find some helpful wisdom from the mind of the Apostle Paul -- wisdom really from God, as Paul was inspired when he penned these lines: "...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal..." (Philippians 3:13-14). It is important to note that Paul began by acknowledging that he "hadn't arrived." In other words, he did not claim to be perfect or to know it all.
Certainly these words are meaningful this time of year. The "one thing" Paul said he did consisted of two different aspects. The first thing he said he did was to forget the past.
Many people are hindered by their past -- either by its failures or successes. Some suffer from the guilt of failture - failure in their work, their family or their personal lives, failure to themselves, others and God. On the other hand, some are restricted by their sucess. A quite capable architect once lost his drive and incentive after designing a fabulous building, since he felt he could never outdo what he had accomplished. In either case, people are often encumbered by their past.
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Like the grace and forgiveness of God, the New Year offers the opportunity to forget the past and wipe the slate clean. This allows for the second segment of Paul's philosophy of life to become a reality -- reaching forth to the things lying in the future. Many today are pessimistic in outlook because of the dismal problems all about us. However, we must look beyond the circumstances that surround us and see the God who surrounds our situations. With God as our help, how can we fail?
Paul was excited about the future and he reached forward with a great deal of anticipation. His stated goal was "the prize for which God has called him" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). What is your goal(s) in life? Because of this attitude, Paul experienced success. This year when you make New Year's resolutions, join me in affirming Paul's outlook on life. The result will surely be a more profitable year than the past one.
