‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
Acts 7:32 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/act.7.32.nkjv
As Christians, we are constantly taught about looking forward or moving forward. We quote Paul in Philippians about pressing toward the mark. Not at all is that a bad thing. We can’t dwell in the past. We can’t live there. We can’t live in past successes or failures. Dwelling in either one has no long term benefit. Yet they both can be used for present and future benefit.
If it’s a failure I can’t let it define me moving forward. I can base everything I look to become or any situation I face on the fact that I failed. Failures happen, but it does not determine that I am always going to fail or that I’m a failure. As for victories, I can’t live there either. I can’t poke my chest out about something I did 10 years ago. It’s great that thing worked out, but life continues on.
That goes for the failures and the victories. I can’t live in them, but I can I learn from them. I can look at my failures and see what mistakes I made to know what moves I shouldn’t make moving forward. I can look at the successes and be encouraged. Not poke my chest out and be arrogant. We can’t be like Al Bundy. If you’re familiar with the old sitcom “Married WIth Children” the husband Al Bundy basically hated his life. He felt tortured by his wife Peg. The thing is Peg was his high school sweetheart. He was a star football player in high school. You know? The jock that all the girls wanted. He always glories in the fact that he scored a record number of touchdowns in one game, but obviously never made it into the NFL. He ended up being a shoe salesman at a local store.
Al allowed himself to be only considered as a failure. He let not being an ultimate success at football define him as a failure. One of the few times he’s actually happy is when he thinks about his budding football career, because he defines that as success. This combination ultimately leaves him unfulfilled. An over exaggerated view of past failure and past success leave him miserable and unfulfilled. This is not so for our walk with God. We are to have a balanced view of both. Use the victories as encouragement to continue to move forward. Use the failures as lessons to help you continue in your walk with God.
That time you messed up was not the last time you’ll fail, but it doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human just like the rest of us. We all fail at times, but it does not define us as failures. We all have success, but it doesn’t have to get us caught up in our own hype and make us prideful. Look at it as a mark of the faithfulness of God in your life. God strengthened you to get the victory and He guided you to overcome the mistakes.
When you take a look back it is just a reminder of how God has worked in your life. When you were back there you didn’t see yourself where you are now. Just take a look back. Don’t stare or gaze. We’re not staying there. Just a quick observation of where you’ve been. Then, put your focus back on where you’re going. A car has rear view mirrors, but you’re not supposed to put your entire focus on those mirrors. They are just meant to make quick checks as you head to your destination and maneuver through traffic. Our past is the same. Just quick checks as we maneuver through life. Some things we look at to avoid future danger. Other things we look at as fond memories that bless our lives. Take a stroll down memory lane and know that all things weren’t good, but they worked together for your good.
That leads us to our Throwback Song of the Week. This is from one half of the duo L.P.G. and member of the legendary Tunnel Rats – Jurny Big. This is from his 2003 solo release “Biggest of Them All.” The track is entitled “Stroll Down.” Tune into the Trackstarz radio show this Saturday to hear DJ Jeremaya spin this for the Throwback Song of the Day. Until next time…
Peace and blessings,
Damo
https://open.spotify.com/track/2wlXabMc2DBteZi0aZ387N?si=AjvEhrRmTfmL–m6XCmDtw
