“Learn from the Past, But Don't Live There”        2010

Isaiah 43:16-21    Philippians 3:10-14

 

Isaiah 43:18-21

18Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.

   

Philippians 3:10-1410I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

One of the great outdoor experiences of my youth as a Boy Scout

            was our trip to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch up in Cimarron, NM.

 

But before our guide

            would take us out to hike and camp in the wilderness,

                        he had us spread everything we intended to take with us

                                    out on our ponchos for his inspection…

            … and he made us leave behind  anything that wasn't necessary,

                        that we didn’t really have to have for the journey ahead.

 

He knew by experience that we had to give up some of our stuff

            because if our backpacks were too full or too heavy,

                        then the burden would be too much for us to carry,

                                    would hold us back,  and we wouldn’t be able make it

                                        along some of the trails to places on our itinerary.

 

In his letter to the Christians living in Philippi, Paul writes:

            Philippians 3:13b-14              … but this 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 heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

As we approach the end of another calendar year, Paul's advice

            suggests that this is an excellent time & opportunity for us

                        to evaluate our lives and the direction we are traveling…

 

… to put the stuff we are carrying out on our ponchos for inspection;

                        and to think about any excess baggage or burdens we carry                            that may restrain our growth or hold us back from the

                                          full grace and blessings that God intends for us.

 

After a number of devastating hurricanes swept our community,

            being surrounded by so much storm damage and destruction

                        seemed to have a psychological affect on lots of people…

     … it dredged up many old and painful terrible traumas of the past,

                 that had to be reconciled before they could move on or ahead.

 

In the course of that need for extra pastoral counseling,

            I was amazed at all the toxic stuff, the heavy and costly

                       burdens of regret, guilt, grief, resentment, bitterness,   

                                    that people had accumulated over decades of living.

As Paul urges,  vs. 13                   … but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…

 

Remnants of the past are not the only burden that people carry,

            but sometimes it's idolatry that holds people back.

 

I don't mean that we bow down to little statues of pagan gods, à

à  but idolatry is any of the stuff and all the things in life

            that we value more,  and care about more  than the faithfulness,

                       the depth and authenticity of our relationship with God.

 

It could be our ambition for more power, influence or recognition,

            our insecurity and greed to possess and control more things,

                        it's when we are driven by our fear, anxiety or cynicism,

                                    or our manipulative insistence on arranging our life.

 

            Idolatry can be an unhealthy longing for love or popularity,

                        or our need to sedate ourselves with drugs or alcohol…

                               … potentially anything becomes an idol when we allow it

                                                to displace or disrupt our faith-walk with God.

                       

That was the issue when the prophet Isaiah wrote,        vs. 18-19

            Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

 

This text was written to the descendants of those taken in exile,

            many of whom had become successful, wealthy and comfortable,

                  quite content and willing to continue living in Babylon.

 

But through Isaiah, God's call was to let go of complacent comfort,

            to risk returning to rebuild their homes and lives in Israel

                        and get away from the pull of the corrupt Babylonian ways…

 

    … why?       

            Because God had something more and far better

                   then for them to remain complacent, comfortable & stagnant

                             amid the immorality, greed and godlessness of Babylon.

 

Is it possible, that God has something more and far better for us

        than just repeating our lives and faith that we lived last year?

    Could the challenges of last year have been God preparing us

            for something new, for our growth and journey this coming year?

 

According to physicists and rocket scientists, escape velocity,

            is the minimum speed necessary

                        for an object         to escape the earth’s gravitational pull

                                    and not fall back down into the earth's atmosphere.

 

The two critical factors that influence escape velocity are,

            1) the weight of the object,

                        and 2) the force or energy being used to move it ahead…

          … the heavier the burden, the harder it is to move it forward.

 

And like a rocket blasting its way through the earth’s atmosphere,

            we may have to lighten our load to break free

                        and apply more energy to moving ahead & forward this year…

 

… otherwise we will find ourselves

      still walking the same tired ruts and frustrations as last year,

              and continuing to grapple unsuccessfully with the same things

                 that have always plagued us and imprisoned us in the past.

 

            Are you entirely satisfied with your life, as it is right now?

                                    Is there any room for improvement and growth?,

                                                or anything you’d like to be different next year?

            Is there anything that a year from now, that could be better?

                        or areas of your life where you might welcome some change?

 

This is the truth about God:

            that stagnation and rust are never God’s plan or will for us,

                        and that the Lord’s   purpose and goal

                              are not to make our lives simple, trouble-free & easy.

No, far from it,

       God is about depth, change and growing our Christian character,

              with the assurance & hope that our fears, mistakes & failures

                   are never greater than or beyond the reach of God's grace.

 

Therefore we are always being called anew

            to a deeper and more faithful journey as we travel along

                        this adventure of spiritual development   we call, life…

… for we are always in the process of being reshaped & reconfigured.

 

Isaiah's message was      don’t get too comfortable or complacent

            because God is up to something wonderful, unexpected and new.

And Paul's message,

            don’t dwell on the past  or look longingly back to the past

                        or let our past define who we are or who we become,

               àbut rather look ahead toward the future God intends for us.

 

So what makes it so detrimental for Christians to focus on the past?

 

Our past victories and accomplishments can give us a false pride;

                and our past failure and mistakes

                        can give us the false fear of insecurity and doubt;

 

          … and either way,       victories or failures,

                to focus on the past impairs our new life and hope in Christ.

 

So if this year is going to be any better than last year,

            then we will have to reconcile, release and defang our past,

                        so that we can escape

                                    the gravitational pull and heavy burden of our past…

 

 

    … if we really want   the something wonderfully more and far better

            that our loving God surely intends for us all this coming year.

 

                   To be practical,   our spiritual growth will entail:

1^st;

   it has something to do with the influences we allow in our lives.

            We may need to reconsider which people we spend our spare time

                as well as the pictures and ideas that we let fill our minds…

                                    … for we can decide where we will focus our attention.

 

2^nd; it is about letting Scripture & prayer be our teacher and guide.

            We need to let God’s word and Holy Spirit influence us

                        far more than our culture, movies or the stuff on TV---

                               which calls for both individual and group Bible study.

 

3^rd; it is by giving of ourselves that will help change our lives.

                        Selfishness and greed stifles our spiritual growth,

                              while generosity in sharing our time, gift & resources

                                    will improve and build up our godly servant passions.

 

Jesus Christ came to free us from the burden of bondage to the past,

            of both our achievements and our failures;

                        so that we can in faithfulness and trust, & press on ahead

                               toward the worthy goal of knowing and serving our Lord.

 

12 months from now,  what change and growth and spiritual progress

            do you hope God's grace and power will bring into your life?

 

Today we are challenged,  to make good, wise and faithful decisions

      that will influence, even determine what we will see on that day.

 

No, we cannot go back to change the past or start our lives over,

            but we can decide to make some changes today – make them now

                        which will lead to a different & better tomorrow  and end.

 

Our call,  continues to be

            to a new awakening, and a spiritual reawakening,

                 to a fresh awareness of the presence of God and God's grace.

 

For all that ever was, all that is now, it is all  

            only a prelude to the wonder, the blessings and glory of grace

                        that awaits the on-going fulfillment

                                    of God's word, desire, blessings, plan and purpose.

 

As we come to the Lord's Table this day, hear the word of the Lord:

    Isaiah 43:18, Philippians 3:13b-14

            Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing. … but this 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 heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.