"...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 of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14.
Forgetting the past does not mean that you cannot remember the past. Actually forgetting large chunks of one's life is a sign of a mental defect or excessive drug use. Forgetting the past does not mean that you should not remember it. If we do not remember our past mistakes or sins, how can we learn from them? Forgetting the past does not mean we are free from accountability, responsibility or amends owed.
I had this nincompoop on my church staff who applied for a ministry position at another church. He did not get the position and publicly accused me of sabotaging his chances for the job by providing a poor recommendation. I assured him that I not only did not give him a poor recommendation, I was not even asked for a recommendation. He called me a liar and continued to bad mouth me to others for giving him a poor recommendation and costing him a ministry position elsewhere. Obviously, and thank God, he left my church for who know where.
A few months later I saw him at a multi-church event/gathering and shared with him that I did some investigation and discovered he did not get the job because of something he said to the interviewing pastor and him not getting the job had nothing to with me. He said, "It does not matter because I got a better job." I told him it mattered to me because he accused me publicly of slandering him. His said, "Whatever" and smugly walked away. You see, he had forgotten the past and was pressing forward for the prize...."
Ten years or so ago I got an email from a pastor friend who asked me to help him with a problem he was having in his church. I emailed him back and and said, "I would love to help you, but we need to take care of what you did to me years back when we were serving in the same church." He refused to discuss the matter and let me know he would rather not have my help than discuss the matter. I never wrote him back. He never contacted me again. He wanted to forget the past and press forward towards his high calling.
I had a friend of many decades. He was a little on the obnoxious side, but he was my friend nonetheless and I never took offense at his obnoxious behavior towards me. He had poor upbringing. However, he greatly offended my wife on more than one occasion. I kept telling my wife to let his offenses pass. However, one particular offense was of such a serious nature, I told her she could confront him about it. She did and he told her he would "not even consider asking forgiveness" for his behavior. He, you see, was putting the past behind him and pressing on for Christ. He is no longer my friend.
Let me give you an example everyone can understand. It is about money! Assume that I borrowed $10,000 from you on the promise that I would pay you back in a year. A year passes. You ask me to pay off my debt to you and I respond, "No, I am forgetting the past and pressing on for Christ!"
One of the reasons people cannot seem to forget their past is the Holy Spirit will not let them because they have not attempted to make amends for their past violations against others. We cannot forgive ourselves when God has not forgiven us no matter how much psycho-babble we flood into our minds. One of the hardest things to do in life is to approach someone we did wrong, admit it and sincerely ask forgiveness. Who told you living for Christ would be easy or comfortable 24/7? That person lied to you. If you are telling that to yourself, you are lying to yourself.
"...if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Matthew 5:23-24.
Rev. Joda Collins
I do not claim that anyone else agrees with me.
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