I forget what's behind me and aim for what's ahead, and jog toward the goal (Philippians 3:13-14)
Satchel Paige, a famous baseball player in America, once joked, "Don't look back- -Something might hit you from the front." On the other hand, George Santayana, a Spanish thinker and writer, wrote in 1905, "Whoever cannot remember the past will be punished by repeating it."
Then, which one should we choose? Are we going to move on, never looking back, or are we going to keep looking at our old mistakes so they don't repeat them?
The Scriptures indicate that we must do both exactly. We need to reflect on our lives and learn from past mistakes. It is part of the process when we confess our sins and ask God's forgiveness. We need to reflect on our disobedience, ask God for forgiveness, and sin no more (John 8:11). Forgiveness is God's way of cleansing our sins. Furthermore, we are obliged to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us so as not to repeat past mistakes. For example, the Apostle Paul acknowledged his past mistakes, asked God's forgiveness, then directed his life to become more and more like Christ (Philippians 3:13-14).
So, which is better, looking back or looking forward? We have to do both in a balanced and wise way: We have to look back to ask for forgiveness, then look forward to move forward --JDB
IN ORDER TO GROW SPIRITUALLY, CONFESS YOUR FAULTS,
THEN DIRECT YOURSELF TO CHRIST TO LIVE THE FUTURE
* Take from Daily Reflections