One of the most profound concepts of life management I know is found in, what I believe, was the Apostle Paul’s Philosophy of Life statement. “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” (Phil.3:13, nlt) The mental picture here is a runner all-in for the finish-line. The word picture is that there is nothing in the past, neither remarkable accomplishments nor shameful failure, that should occupy our attention, because at this moment …everything is ahead. Infant or octogenarian…everything is future.
His statement, “..I focus on this one thing..” zero’s in on the incredible power of a single minded fixation on a concentrated pursuit.
The past closes behind us, one moment at a time, unalterably ‘set in concrete.’ Good or bad, glorious or shameful—it is what it is. It can be rejoiced over or wept over, bragged about or embarrassed about—but it can’t be changed. Paul’s philosophy was “forget it!!”—walk away. You can’t rest on its laurels nor should you allow its shame to define you. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Everything that matters is before you.
The only things we can do anything about are those things that lie ahead. The future allows us to refocus, to change our mind, to change our attitudes, to change our values, to heal broken/damaged relationships, to make corrections in the trajectory of our life, to dream, to plan, to prepare, to become the person God created you to be—everything is future!!
Our stance must be “looking forward,” reaching, stretching, grasping, lengthening our stride, straining to reach—that which lies ahead. Everything is Future!!