Getting Past Your Past

Philippians 3:11-14 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 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, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I. Paul Had A Plan

V. 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

When Paul says he want to “attain unto the resurrection of the dead” here he “was speaking of ‘resurrection perfection,’ that perfection which will be the condition of every Christian when he sees Jesus Christ at the “Rapture” (1 John 3:2-3 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.) Paul sought every day to live in such a way as to attain that perfection.” Rock of Ages Study Bible notes

II. He Had Not Reached The Goal

V. 12a Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:

III. He Was Working Toward The Goal

V. 12b but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

IV. He Had A Plan To Reach The Goal

V. 13-14 13 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, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let’s first look at verse 14 where Paul uses the phrase “press toward the mark”, this is “like a runner in a race” who has an end goal that is set before him. Rock of Ages Study Bible notes He doesn’t start out at the finish line. He must work for that goal. He must set his mind steadfastly on attaining that goal and let nothing stand in his way. In fact, he may even use a few “tricks” or “games” to help make it at least seem easier to reach.

Illustration: if you are running a long distance it seems easier to set small goals along the route rather than to run the whole route at once. i.e. if you are running a mile on a road run from one power pole to the next, then the next, then the next. You do not stop at each pole, but as you pass each one you tell yourself that you have accomplished your current goal and move on to the next one. Eventually you will find that you have ran an entire mile one small section/goal/mark at a time.

As this runner prepares to run his race, he is going to do everything he can to lighten his load. He will not be running in a snow suit, or even a pair of blue jeans. He will wear the lightest, most aerodynamic clothing he can.

If we look back at the early verses of this chapter Paul recounts some of his, “qualifications,” and some his “accolades.”. In these verses he mentions his previous persecution of the church. Remember it was Paul, then known as Saul in Acts 7 who watched over the coats of the men who stoned Stephen, an we are told in Acts 8 that he was “consenting unto his death.” These things have now become his weights which must be laid aside for the race

Certainly, Paul had some things that he would love to “forget”.

The question now becomes how do we “forget” the things of our past. They come up all the time. Satan, “the accuser of the brethren” brings them up, people bring them up, a smell, a sound, a song, a phrase that we hear in passing brings our memories flooding back with things we haven’t thought about in years.

We GET PAST OUR PAST by realizing that it is not our present or our future. We do the same thing that Paul did in Philippians 3:7-8 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Some of the things he was referring to we see as sinful - persecuting the church, being a pharisee. Some things there was nothing wrong with – being circumcised, being of the tribe of Benjamin.

The point is that if we are going to get past our past we must “forget our past”. That is to leave the past in the past. Realize that the mistakes of yesterday are the mistakes of yesterday, and that today is a new day. Tomorrow it’s the same thing.

The Trouble Tree

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied." I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So, I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

He paused. "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Author Unknown

The Christian too has a “Trouble Tree”. It’s called the Cross. Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

The key is to let our Trouble Tree do what it was designed to do.