Forward Focus: Leaving the Past Behind

Prayer of Illumination

Gracious God,

As we turn to Your Word, open our hearts to receive the truth that our past does not define us, but Your grace does. Help us to let go of guilt, shame, and regret, and to embrace the new life You have given us. Speak to us through Scripture today—renew our minds, strengthen our faith, and direct our steps forward in Your purpose.

May we not only hear Your Word but be transformed by it.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

In 2007, I woke up in a hospital bed after a 13-hour, 4-level spinal fusion. My foot wouldn’t function, but something incredible had happened—God had completely healed me from every bit of pain I had walked in with. I never even needed a pain pump, and my surgeon thought I was crazy!

Just three days earlier, I had been ordained into ministry, full of excitement for what God was going to do. But now, lying there, I found myself asking, “God, You brought me here—now what? How are You going to use this? You know I want to serve you but here I am in these circumstances”

Hold on to that thought, because we’re coming back to this story later in the message. But for now, I’ll leave you in suspense!

Maybe you’ve asked that question before. Maybe your past mistakes, failures, or painful experiences have left you wondering if God can still use you. Maybe guilt and regret whisper that you’ve gone too far, or shame tells you that you’re not good enough.

But here’s the truth: Your past does not define you—God does. His purpose for you is greater than anything you’ve done or anything that has happened to you. Through Christ, He offers newness of life, a fresh start, and a future full of purpose.

Today, we’re going to look at Scripture where Paul reminds us to forget what is behind and press on toward what is ahead and where God through Isaiah even tells the Israelites the same thing.. Because where God is taking you is far greater than where you’ve been!

Pressing Past the Past (Phil 3:13-14)

Philippians 3:13–14 NASB 2020

Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul had a past that made him call himself “the chief of sinners.”

He had Christians persecuted and arrested.

He approved of Stephen’s death.

Made Christians blaspheme and renounce Christ in prison.

Paul easily had plenty of sin that he could sit and dwell upon to hold him back from doing God’s work and will.

God’s mercy knows no limits—when we ask, He forgives completely. Yet, when it comes to forgiving ourselves, we often find only a single drop of grace before hitting a wall of self-condemnation.

OK, you had a terrible past of sin and degradation. But now you have been forgiven in Christ, and He has given you His Word and His Spirit to overcome sin in the future, so get with it!” That sort of encouragement is precisely what is needed in today’s permissive culture.

Adams, Jay E. 2020. “Past.” In The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling, 139. Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies.

I struggle with this at times, and I believe we all do. The enemy has a way of hitting replay in our minds, making our past sins echo over and over again.

What is it we struggle with?

Guilt

The enemy wants to keep us trapped in our mistakes, but God’s grace has already covered them. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Shame

Shame makes us believe we are unworthy, but God calls us His beloved. He has redeemed us, not rejected us. We are loved by God and His love overcomes any shame the devil can throw at us.

Regret

We replay past decisions, wondering what could have been. But God redeems our past and uses it for His purpose (Romans 8:28)

Romans 8:28 NASB 2020

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Preoccupation with the past is a fruitless and harmless attempt of the enemy to keep you stuck there.

The story of Peter denying Jesus illustrates the struggle of self-forgiveness. After his denial, Peter felt unworthy, consumed by shame. However, in John 21, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Each question offers Peter a chance to forgive himself and embrace his calling. This exchange shows that despite our failings, God desires our restoration and empowers us to move forward. Forgiving ourselves is part of responding to God’s love and purpose in our lives.

Paul takes a different approach. He remembers but he leans forward because there is something higher and greater ahead than the heap of sin that remains behind.

Paul puts it in what my mentor and spiritual dad calls “the tomb of time.”

When someone passes, we honor their life, lay them to rest, and would never dream of digging them up years later. Yet, we often do just that with the things God has already buried—bringing back what was meant to stay buried.

God redeems our past and brings life from the ashes.

“All saints have a past, all sinners have a future.” -Author Unknown

Paul is not satisfied with where he is; he desires to keep growing.

He has a holy discontent that drives him to press on (Philippians 3:13).

Forget all aspects of yesterday:

Successes – don’t rest on past achievements.

Failures – don’t let mistakes define you.

Hurts – don’t let past wounds control you.

The past should not control your life; learn from it but don’t dwell on it.

Don’t focus on the rearview mirror (the past); instead, look through the windshield (the future), because where you’re going is bigger than where you’ve been.

Perceiving God's Purpose (Isaiah 43:19)

Isaiah 43:18–19 NASB 2020

“Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past. “Behold, I am going to do something new, Now it will spring up; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

To fulfill your kingdom purpose, you must have:

A short memory – letting go of the past.

Remember that the past can blind us for opportunity that God has in store for us.

Laid up in a hospital bed, recovering from a 13-hour, 4-level spinal fusion, I woke up to a foot that wouldn’t function. Just three days after my ordination, I found myself asking, “OK, God, You brought me to this moment… now what? Let’s see You use this.”

And He did—beyond my wildest dreams.

Not only did He redeem the pain for His glory, but He also placed a new burden and passion in my heart: a deep calling to minister to the suffering—especially those in nursing facilities who feel forgotten. Through my pain, He opened my eyes to their pain, and in doing so, He revealed a new purpose I never could have imagined.

A clear direction – focusing on what lies ahead.

God sets our path straight and walks beside us, guiding us even when we stumble, fall, or grow weary on the climb.

Trust him to guide you to the path. Pray for his will, discern whether its what you want or what he wants, then get on the path with God beside you.

God is about to do something new that will inspire us to press toward the finish line and long for the prize.

Isaiah is telling the Israelites that although it looks bad now, although you are wandering through the desert spiritually, God is doing new things in your midst that are fresh, life-giving, and reveal God’s purpose for your life.

The purpose of God is found in grace.

Grace carried us through the past, sustains us in the present, and will lead us into the future.

From God’s grace, Paul found his calling. It wasn’t any normal calling but it was a high-calling. The calling was Jesus. The calling he gives us is heaven.

Grace helps us understand that this calling isn’t found in our own sufficiency, talents, or work but in God alone.

God saving purposes are at work in us to redeem us from sin and ourselves.

He wants to refine us through the fire to be like himself.

When those purposes are fulfilled in God, he then calls us to himself.

God, like he did for Paul, is calling us to:

Remember your high calling—it is unique and surpasses everything else.

Press on in your calling, moving forward in His purpose, and glorify Him in all you do.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and the prize that awaits at the finish line. He is the author and finisher of our faith—the One who fired the starting gun and now stands at the finish line, holding the victory tape.

Power in the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB 2020

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

So far, God has inspired us through Paul’s example to:

Forget the past, live fully in the present, and strive for the future.

Find our purpose in Christ.

But God is not done yet. That purpose is leading us to great power as we step into the new creation He has made us to be.

God is the God of Newness.

1. New Life & Identity (2 Cor. 5:17).

2. New Mercies (Lam. 3:22-23).

3. New Heart & Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).

4. New Strength (Isa. 40:31).

5. New Song (Ps. 40:3).

6. New Covenant (Luke 22:20).

7. New Heavens & Earth (Rev. 21:5).

What a beautiful thing God does in the new. The new breaks the chains that the devil wants to use to hold us from God’s best.

We need to fully embrace this and anchor our faith in this newness that God has blessed us with.

Christ is our all in all. We can strive to the finish line in his power.

To Sum It Up: The journey of faith is forward-focused, and in Christ, we have the strength to move beyond our past and embrace the new things God is doing in our lives.

Conclusion

Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future No failure or pain can change God’s plans for you. If you're still breathing, God is still working!

God’s Purpose Overcomes Your Past No matter your past, God's calling is greater. Like Joseph, Moses, and Peter, God can use anyone for His purpose.

The Newness of Life Gives You a Fresh Start In Christ, you're a new creation. God doesn’t just forgive your past—He redeems it for His glory.

Grace Covers It All It’s not about what we’ve done, but what Jesus has done for us. His grace is greater than our failures, shame, and regrets.

🔹 Stop looking back. Where God is taking you is far greater than where you’ve been!

Prayer After Message

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your grace that covers our past and leads us into a new future. Help us to let go of guilt, shame, and regret, trusting that Your purpose is greater than our failures. Remind us that we are defined by Your love, not our mistakes.

Give us the faith to move forward, the strength to embrace our calling, and the courage to walk in the newness of life You’ve given us. Use us for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Benediction

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His grace go before you, His strength sustain you, and His peace fill your heart. Leave behind what is past and step forward with confidence, knowing that His purpose for you is greater than anything behind you.

Go in His love, walk in His grace, and live in the victory of His promises.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.