Our memory works better than God’s in some areas. Do you believe that? It is true! You know God forgives our confessed sins. You also know He does not remember them ever again. Psalms records,” As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (103:12 ESV).
Sadly, we remember, even though God has forgiven us. The Apostle Paul, who imprisoned many Christians, encouraged himself by writing, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way…” (Philippians 3:13-15 ESV).
We can go forward only if we forgive ourselves for what God has forgiven us. Somehow, we still waddle in the mud of those forgiven sins. We continue to beat ourselves up over and over again with guilt. By doing so, we are disobedient to God because we are letting those forgiven sins hold us back from doing the next thing God wants us to do.
God has work for you to do; he is not finished with you. As long as you have breath and your heart beats, let it beat for you to do the work of God. There is a world outside your front door. God-given opportunities are waiting for you to do and conquer for the Lord.
As sure as the grass grows, the birds sing, and trees sprout new leaves, God has spring-like opportunities for you. Look around, what do you see? What has God set before your eyes and heart to do for him? When you see it—do it. It may not be a one-time thing. It could be ongoing for his glory. Whatever it is, he will confirm it to you in some way. His confirmation is your playbook, guide, motivator to begin the journey with him. It may also require you to seek a day-by-day sequence for the plan to be accomplished.
However, you will not accomplish the Lord’s plans if you do not forget the past. The past will haunt you only if you let it. No, you cannot undo the past. The forgiven sin is just that—forgiven—forever erased in the heart of God. If it does not exist in God’s memory then it should not hold you back. God has work for you to do in the future. Press on to the prize of the high calling of God for his glory.
