Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
As we consider our lifetime, we have two choices: We can allow the failures of the past to control us, or we can choose to use past failures as reminders of what to steer clear of in the future.
Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2:1). There was no way to erase that from her record. But as long as she remained in Jericho she would always be a prostitute, and when the Israelites attacked, she would be a dead prostitute along with everyone else in the city. But Rahab chose to leave her past and move toward the future.
By making the right choice, she changed her entire future. She saved her own life as well as her family and friends who stayed in her house when Israel attacked. In Matthew 1 she is named in the lineage of King David and Jesus. In Hebrews 11 she is remembered along with the faithful across the ages. Not bad for a former loser!
I frequently receive calls or e-mail messages from people who are encountering trials. You may be going through a time of doubt and defeat because of sins of your past. Any time Satan brings them to your mind and wants you to feel defeated for what you did, or were, or caused, just choose to praise the Lord. Give Him the glory and receive his grace that is sufficient to block out the sins that we have committed.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil