11月10日

標　　題： 繼續前進

經　　節： 弟兄們，我不是以為自己已經得著了；我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的。（腓立比書三章13節）

世人告訴你，對於你當前生活的最大影響是你的過去。如果你成長於有問題的家庭，這會決定你將來的生命方向。如果你曾遭受種族文化的歧視，這會主宰你今日的生活狀況。如果你受過傷害或被虐待，或者你在青少年時期很叛逆，你的餘生將與你的過去翻滾掙扎。這個世界被過去給占滿，因為它面對的是未知的將來。

基督徒則恰恰相反。基督徒自由地活著，因為基督已經戰勝我們的過去。「舊事」已經都過去，一切都成了「新事」（哥林多後書五：17）。神完全饒恕了基督徒的罪，祂不再記念那些罪（以賽亞書四十三：25）。基督徒不是忘記過去，而是不被過去所控制或刺激。基督徒對將來有盼望。

世人專注於所要克服的挑戰或困難，而基督徒專注于成為甚麼樣的人。基督徒知道，聖靈在自己身上動工，使我們有基督的形像。基督徒知道，自己終究會站在基督面前，交代一生的所作所為，並與基督同在，直到永遠。基督徒知道，所有不義之事終有一日會被陳明，每個傷痛都可得安慰。基督徒知道，撒但和死亡在末了會退出。基督徒的生命是豐盛，且充滿激情的。不但如此，過去發生的一切不再影響他們。

如果你沉浸於過去，求神打開你的眼睛，看到等在你面前的是奇妙的將來，就像保羅一樣，忘記背後、努力面前。

Press On

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. (Philippians 3:13)

The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home life, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past. The world is preoccupied with the past because it faces an uncertain future.

Christians, on the other hand, live in freedom because Christ has overcome our past. The “old things” have been done away with and “new things” have come_(2 Cor. 5:17). God has so totally forgiven the Christian’s sin that He chooses not to remember it (Isa. 43:25). Christians do not forget the past; but we are not controlled or motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope.

The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming. Christians know that the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image of Christ. Christians know that ultimately they will stand before Christ to give an account of their actions and will spend an eternity in the presence of God. Christians know that eventually every injustice will be addressed and every hurt comforted. They know that Satan, and death itself, will finally be brought to an end. The Christian’s future is so full and rich and exciting that it supersedes whatever happened in the past.

If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin, like Paul, to press on to what is ahead.