Going Forward

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13, New King James Version).

This is the key Bible verse for our “Come and See” devotional today.

During their famous journey from Egypt to the Promised Land through the wilderness, the Lord told the children of Israel, through Moses, to camp opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh, with a hardened heart and with his chariots and horses, had engaged the children of Israel in a hot pursuit, which ultimately led to the destruction of the Pharaoh’s forces (Exodus 14: 1-12).

In this incident, the Israelites were afraid and cried unto the Lord for deliverance. They also protested against Moses, who then also joined them in their cry unto the Almighty God, but in response the Lord said to Moses: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15b, New King James Version).

God did not suggest that the Israelites need not pray for deliverance, but He did not want them to lose focus on the way to the Promised Land, which was still ahead of them.  Similarly in today’s key Bible verse, the relentless Apostle Paul encouraged himself to continue to reach forward towards the goal ahead of him irrespective of the obvious challenges and persecution around him.

The lesson from all of this is that we must not be distracted by the challenges we are currently facing; moreover, these challenges are only temporal and are nothing compared with the glory prepared for us by God.

We must always remember that we will overcome and outlive all our challenges because “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1st John 4:4b, International Standard Version). If we all remain steadfast in the Lord, then all our trials will have a successful outcome and our battles will be won. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them.” (2nd Corinthians 4:17, New International Version).

We must not forget that we are on the race track of life, running a race to complete Gods’ given purpose in this world.  Athletes do not run facing backwards and they only run forwards, aiming for the prized medal and its glory. God is on our side and we must always remember that a slow start in life does not mean that we will not catch up later.  Like the hands of time, we must keep moving: but forwards only and never towards the back direction.

Let us pray: “Father, may I receive the strength to move in a forward direction only and never backwards, in the pursuit of my destiny,” in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

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