Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 May 2001 — Page 42

The Muncie Times, May 3, 2001, page 42

RELIGION Forgetting and Reaching Forth

by Mildred L. Chambers “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind, and REACHING FORTH unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling for God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13, 14) When we consider what a mighty man Apostle Paul was, we might wonder at his making mention of forgetting any of the past; still he spoke of forgetting those things which were behind. We feel prompted to ask the question, “What was it that Paul wanted to forget?” An immediate reply would be that he wanted to forget the heartaches, the disappointments and the sufferings, possibly the imprisonments and the many stripes that were laid upon him. How wonderful to have the ability to cast from our minds the darkness of past days. Just as valuable, however, is the ability to forget past successes,

except to draw from them inspiration and encouragement for future task. There is a great danger in dreaming - passively or futuristically. Dreams grow holy only when they are put into action, and as the philosopher Cato said it, “The best way to keep good acts in memory is to refresh them with new.” I am confident that there are many things we all need to forget. It may be that there are injuries which we have received from less conscientious persons, and we have stored them in our hearts. Let us have a forgiving spirit and forget those things. Nothing sets a person so much out of the Devil’s reach as humility. One writer states, “The Christian is like the ripening corn; the riper he grows, the more lowly he bends his head.” Perhaps there is a great sorrow which has pressed upon you until you have been able to produce such spiritual fruits as should be brought forth. Forget that sorrow, and remember that ea.th has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. The important thing for us

now is to make our lives count by redeeming the time. Time, whose tooth gnaws away everything else, is powerless against truth. The truth will stand, uncontaminated and undiluted, It is we who must take advantage of every opportunity that God gives us to increase in our own lives those spiritual qualifications which make us effective soul winners. Possibly some have been disappointed because of financial difficulties. Let us forget those disappointments also, because, after all, we cannot take any of the goods of this world with us. Our true riches are those which are laid up “in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Often times God takes the riches of this world from us in order to make us realize the value of the riches that we may possess in Christ. Without a doubt the majority of us have some failures that come before us, even as David did when he said, “My sin is ever before me.” The

Devil enjoys haunting God’s people with memories of their shortcomings, and certainly it is much easier for us to remember our failures that it is for us to remember God’s mercy. Satan, by flaunting memories of our failures before us, may keep us in the valley of despair if we are unable to rise above such thoughts. The great question is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure. It may be well for you to be content with what you have - but not with who you are! Just as the Apostle mentioned “FORGETTING those things which are behind,” he also said, “REACHING FORTH unto those things which are before.” Let us reach forth with shining lights of success through our obedience unto Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. It is a very common thing for people of the world to reach out for the riches of the world, and we begin to train our children very early in life to reach out for the necessities in life. How much more we need

to learn the value of reaching out for the things of God, and “pressing toward the mark for the prize of high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” Surely this is a marvelous statement. God tells us that there is a prize for our obedience. This is a goal worth striving for, even though it is often so hidden under stones of trial and thickets of cares of life that many never see it. As we look at our feet, which are made of clay, consider the many failures which have confronted us in the past, surely we would succumb to despair if it were not for God’s great grace. But, let us remember that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” If you consider that you are a failure, God wants you to forget it and take a fresh supply of His sovereign grace. You will find that we mount to heaven mostly on the ruins of our cherished schemes, finding that many of our failures are successes.

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7-Fold Agape Minstry 1208 S. Centennial Bible Teachings • Wed. 7:00 pm Jubilee Celebration • Sat. 12 Noon Kingdom School • Sun. 10:00 am Church Service • Sun. 12:15 pm Phone - 289-1038

Pastor Vera L. Thomas I

Holy Ghost Temple Church of God in Christ 1518 E. 17th St. Sunday School • 10:00 am Morning Worship • 11:30 am Bible Study • Tues. 7:00 pm Prayer • Wed. 6:00 pm Worship • Fri. 7:30 pm Phone - 282-9158

Pastor Jerry D. Bumpus