Philippians 3:12-16

Philippians 3:12-16
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Ever spend time wondering how your life would have been different if you'd made a different decision five years ago?  Or wonder what might have happened if you'd done that thing back when you had that opportunity?  Financial websites are great at that -- isn't it great to hear how you should have invested $1,000 in Domino's Pizza in 2010 so that it would have gone up 3600% over 8 years?  What are you supposed to do with that information except regret that you didn't invest? 
  This is a famous verse, but there's a part that is skipped over -- the part where we forget what lies behind.  In verse 13, Paul talks about straining forward, but he can only do that if he's able to forget his history.  Think about what Paul's life would have been like if he had chosen to spend his time lamenting his days as a Pharisee rather than focusing on what Christ had in front of him.  Opportunity was ahead of him, sins were behind him, and he focused his vision on what matters.
  If you're like me, there are moments every day when you turn your mind to the past, to choices made or decisions not made.  You can lose moments in wonder, but more importantly, you lose momentum.  Christ has forgiven your sins -- you have been set free from what lies behind.  So forget about it, focus on the future with gratitude. 
  I don't know what your future looks like.  I know what our long-term future is like.  I'd encourage you to reach out to someone you know and tell them that you're hopeful about their future.  Despair can be sneaky -- people can get caught up in what didn't happen, what might have been, and they can lurk in that darkness.  So reach out, share some light, share some hope.  Remind someone of the light that shines in the darkness, and of the hope that calls us all to strain forward.