“…forgetting those things which are behind…”

— Philippians 3:13

Years ago we had a guest speaker at our church who made the point so well that we need to forget the things that are behind and press forward in Christ.

Lt. Clebe McClary is a veteran of the Viet Nam War. He unfortunately experienced the blast of dynamite which blew off his arm, which he only discovered when he couldn’t reach his rifle because there was nothing on his shoulder any longer. It also blew out his eye and half of his face, his teeth, his nose, and did all sorts of other damage. I think he has had over 35 major surgical operations. Despite all these hardships, he reminds himself regularly to forget.

He has a license plate on the front of his car which says “FIDO.” That’s F-ID- O. No, that’s not the name of his dog. It stands, he says, for “Forget It, Drive On.” And let me tell you he has a lot to forget. Have you been hurt? Is your eye gone, your teeth, your arm? How many surgical operations has it taken to correct your injuries, and, of course, it is still not corrected—the damage from the hurt that you or I have experienced? Forget it, drive on. “…Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal…” (Philippians 3:13-14a).

Too many people allow the past to destroy their present and their future. FIDO is a message like that of the Apostle Paul—to consciously not drag the baggage of the past forward.

Lord God of Justice, we ask that You help us to forget what is behind. Help us to not let past hurts define and hinder us. Thank You that one day You will right all wrongs…

BY HIS STRENGTH, WE CAN
LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND.