Letting Go of the Past in the Pursuit of God

Janus, the ancient Roman god of new beginnings, is depicted with two faces. One looks back at the year that has passed and is marked by sorrow, dismay, and perplexity, and the other looks forward to the new year, alight with hope and confidence. Though this concept flows from the ancient worship of false gods, at the close of each year, this theme of looking back and looking forward continues to reclaim our attention.

Now, God has set times and seasons—all for the purpose of renewal because God is a renewing God. But He is also clear that we are to renew our minds on a daily basis, even a moment-by-moment basis, not simply on certain occasions. So how do we live with such a purpose? How do we seek to renew our minds with every breath?

THE DANGER OF DWELLING IN THE PAST

Here’s the problem: We often keep looking back on the past not to let it go but to dwell on it. Many get caught in the quicksand of the past—of past sorrow, failure, pain, hurt, and anger, or whatever it may be. It is even possible to get caught in past successes. But by dwelling on the past, we can create fear and anxiety of the present and future so that we never move forward. You see, it’s impossible to pursue continual renewal with a divided focus—with our eyes, our thoughts, or our hearts constantly preoccupied with the past. So if we want to pursue Christ with freedom and abandon, we must allow the Holy Spirit to help us to let go of past sin through genuine confession and repentance.

THE ONE THING WE MUST DO

The apostle Paul leads the way for us, expressing his passion for the preeminence of Christ in his life in Philippians 3:13-14. Here’s the Youssef translation: “Brethren, I count not myself to have made it. I haven’t reached it yet. But one thing I do: . . .”—obviously this “one thing” occupies his mind and impacts every aspect of his life—”. . . I forget those things that are in my past, and I strain forward, strenuously running toward the future. I press hard toward the goal, the finish line, the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.” The apostle Paul’s message to us is to let go of the past and strive toward the future with every ounce of energy we have—not as one of the many things that we do but as the one thing that influences everything we do.

Now, by all means learn from the past and let it propel you forward— but don’t live in it. Paul accomplished more for the Gospel of Jesus Christ than anybody else, including the twelve disciples, who walked and lived with Jesus for three years. If he had been like many of us today who tend to live in the past—if he had allowed his past sins to haunt him, his past rejection of Jesus to weigh him down, if he had constantly permitted the guilt of persecuting Christians to lay heavy on his heart, if he had continuously called to mind his participation in the stoning of Stephen—he would have been totally paralyzed. Instead, he impacted the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not only in his day but even to this day. He knew that he could be cleansed from the horrors of the past through the Gospel of grace. My friend, when we confess and repent of our sins, they are covered by the blood of Christ and must be forgotten.

Every time the enemy tries to condemn you with guilt and shame over the past—you must immediately ground yourself in the Truth of the Gospel. Christ’s blood has fully atoned for all your sin. It is not enough to just let go of the past; your mind, heart, memory, and spirit must be continuously filled in those broken places—filled with the peace of knowing you have been forgiven. We can do this by praising God and dwelling on His love, grace, and mercy.

FIGHTING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE WITH FAITH

I think most people are apprehensive about the future—whether it’s concern about their children, the economy, their jobs, their health, their financial security, and the list goes on and on. Uncertainty about the future plagues a lot of people. But I want to encourage you: There is nothing in your future that is not already foreseen by your heavenly Father. God sees the future as a present reality; He even knew you before you were formed in the womb (see Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4). He knows what happens before it happens. Therefore, you can face uncertainty in your life by trusting that the same heavenly Father who lovingly called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light will also take care of your present and future.

When Paul said, “[O]ne thing I do” (Philippians 3:13), he was exhorting us to join him in training ourselves to keep our thoughts on the finish line—what I call our “audience of one.” Don’t look to the sidelines; don’t be distracted by the past. It’s already been forgiven; it’s under the blood of Jesus. Like Corrie ten Boom used to say: Jesus has thrown your sins into the deepest sea, and you better not go fishing for them. Refuse to look back, because if you do, you’re going to stumble. Where did Paul get this idea? He learned it from Jesus.

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS

Once our Lord called a man to follow Him, but this man wanted to first go home and say goodbye to his family. It was a reasonable request, but Jesus, who knows all hearts and motives, replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Our politically correct society says Jesus was harsh, but in reality, He was teaching an important principle. You see, the plow is pulled by a strong, wild ox. If you are not holding that plow with every ounce of your attention and energy, that ox could literally crush you. Controlling and managing the ox pulling the plow requires your eyes to be forward in complete concentration. Likewise, Jesus’ disciples must strive forward toward His Kingdom with the same “singleness of heart and action” (Jeremiah 32:39).

DAILY RENEWAL AS WE RUN THE RACE

When Paul says, “Forgetting what is behind” (Philippians 3:13), he means he forgets every past evil and sin— everything that he’s ever done in rebellion against the Lord. But not only that. He also talks about every past achievement—he considers them trash in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing and following Christ (see Philippians 3:3-11). He mentions this because past successes can hamper us just as much as past failures. So, like Paul, burn the bridges to the past that are constantly beckoning you to come back to the old territories that you have walked away from. If it is gold that is keeping you from straining toward God’s goal for your life, cut the golden chain. If it’s a sense of reputation that is holding you back, become a nobody for Christ’s sake. If it is pride in your own wisdom, become willing to be considered a fool for Jesus. If it is personal pleasure, sacrifice your selfish desires for Jesus. If it is an unwholesome relationship, then you must firmly walk away from that relationship.

Whatever bridges are holding you back, burn them today. Offer them to the Lord, that He may replace them with His strength, power, promises, and purposes. And do this every single day, because surrender is not a one-time act. This “one thing we do” is a life of constant, holy renewal. May we faithfully run the race for “the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to . . . all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).