Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 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, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14–

This past Sunday Pastor Kevin gave a great end-of-year message entitled Letting Go & Moving On focussed on these Philippians 3 verses. (See it at http://www.blackrock.org)

Most of us would love to just forget and move on from 2020. But, following the service, our small group had a great discussion about the concept of Forgetting raised by Paul.

Firstly, I love that the Apostle Paul, one of the great pillars of our faith and writer of much of the New Testament acknowledges that he is not perfect. He does not understand it all. I certainly can relate to that. We are all figuring it out as we walk this journey of faith.

Then Paul writes of laying hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. I had always taken this to mean that it was about grabbing ahold of something God has grabbed ahold for me. But it is not “for me” it is “of me”. God has seized hold of what he created us to be. That’s what God hangs onto, not the garbage we have accumulated in our life. That’s what Paul wants to grab hold of – all of what God intended for him to be.

How does Paul say he does that? By doing one thing! Now, it appears that Paul may not be much of a math wiz when he then seems to talk of doing 2 things – 1. forgetting those things which are behind, and 2. reaching forward to those things which are ahead. But, it is actually one thing, saying that while he is reaching forward he is forgetting. They are part of the same thing like the many motions comprised of swimming or mountain climbing. As a part of propelling yourself forward you are pushing things behind.

As I get older I’m getting pretty good at practicing something that the Apostle Paul apparently excelled at. Now what was that? Oh, yes – Forgetting

More and more often I’m forgetting my keys, my glasses, my iPhone, where I left things, or, I may go to the grocery store and come home with bags of groceries but forgotten the one thing my wife asked me to get.

Unfortunately, when Paul talks of forgetting those things which are behind, he is not talking about that kind of forgetting.

I don’t know about you, but there have been plenty of experiences/episodes in my life I wish I could forget. Embarrassing moments, bad behavior, words I wish I could take back. Sometimes when I’m doing something, a completely random memory will pop into my head and I’ll just shudder with embarrassment at the thought.

I love Paul’s urging about forgetting the past. Whatever foolish, hurtful things we have done or have been done to us – whatever ways we have been hurt or damaged, just leave it behind and forget it. I love that, but it just doesn’t seem to come that easy. It is particularly hard and probably near impossible for those who have experienced sever trauma – the horrors of war or real mental, spiritual and physical abuse.

Why? For those who have been abused, the memories are seared into their sub-conscience. It may not be a matter of will-power. Or, if it is bad past experiences there are often consequences and repercussions and other people involved that cause these memories to be resurrected. It can seem inescapable. And, it seems a bit like cheap wise-guy wisdom of the world – “Hey, just fuggedaboutit!”

However, the Greek word for Forgetting – Epilanthanomai – includes in the definition “given over to oblivion” (the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening).

Depending on the context, the Greek word could be consciously or unconsciously forgetting by exertion or supernatural means. But, in this particular context, it is not a spiritual thing where a memory is magically wiped away. Paul says, this is what he does – He chooses to set his mind on that which is ahead and let the past be left behind. Paul is talking about a conscious decision. It is not a one and done but a process of forgetting.

We all know this to be true in our lives. Memory of failures and mistakes, what we have been told we can or cannot do haunt us as a reminder “I’m not going there again.” I won’t risk embarrassment and failure because of my bad experiences in the past. But what if we could just wipe away these unwanted memories from our past?

Like a Spiritual Super Power

In the movie comedy, Mystery Men– there are seven quirky amateur crime-fighters with strange powers including one who gets intensely angry, one who hurls silverware, a bowler, a shoveler, one who knocks people out by passing gas, and an invisible boy who can only become invisible when nobody is looking at him. (I think I may have a few of these powers. I’ll let you guess which ones)

I have come up with my own super hero with unique super power – Fuggedaboutit Man or Oblivious Man – A comic book super hero whose unique super power is the ability to FORGET. The Super hero can press on through any difficulty – not being burdened with the memory of any abuse or weakness or failure or embarrassment. Every moment being new and fresh with the belief that he/she can do anything regardless of past experience to the contrary, to ultimately outlast any adversary or challenge to go on to ultimate victory!

I see Paul as the original Oblivious Man.

Think of the baggage Paul had to carry around when becoming a Christian. He was a well-known enemy of the Christians participating in their pain, suffering and death. The disciples knew of Paul’s past and were seriously challenged to accept him. Think of what he had to overcome to be accepted into the Christian community and allowed to minister so powerfully.

So, how did Paul say he was able to put his past behind him? Of all the things Paul could say to do – to pray, to meditate, to strive, to study, to exert faith, to do good works, to fast, to worship or to do any of the Spiritual disciplines – In Philippians 3:13 Paul says: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.

So, it seems to me that Paul is indicating that to effectively forget that which is behind us we must be moving forward with all of our interest and attention on pressing on to what is ahead.

What are we reaching forward for? Paul goes on to say in verse 14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

What’s the prize?

Ephesians 2:10 NLV – For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We strive (as Paul strived) to lay hold of that masterpiece that God sees. To be resurrected from what we see us to be to then realize that perfect creation God has made us to be – each of us unique but still a perfect reflection of Jesus. That’s the “Prize!”

Do we really see ourselves that way? Giving over to oblivion the old man/who we were – all the wounds and hurts and failures and messaging telling lies about who we can never be? All of that may have to be jettisoned in order to fully discover our true identity in Christ.

Colossians 3: 9-10 – you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

Forge is the most significant part of Forget – Are we called to forget everything? No. We are called, with God’s strength, to put that which holds us back behind us. Whatever inhibits us from moving forward to become all we were created to be in Christ Jesus. The imagery is that of climbing into a car. You hit the gas and begin driving to a new destination as your past gets smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.

How Does God Deal With Forgetting Past Sin and Corruption?

I find it interesting that God is not forgetful – yet, even He chooses to do a similar kind of forgetting/obliterating. But, the indication is that it doesn’t just disappear. In Psalm 103:12 it says – As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. And likewise it says in Micah 7:19 – He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Also, in John 1:29 John the Baptists declares that Jesus ‘takes away’ the sin of the world. He removes it. The Greek Airo means to bear away or carry away.

These scriptures suggest that it is still out there somewhere but in a far distant place that cannot harm us. The power and penalty of sin is removed. It does not mean it is necessarily permanently destroyed from our memory. It’s part of what God can use to turn bad into good. Circular – forgetting enables us to press forward, pressing forward leaves the old self in the dust.

God wants to heal and restore us, yet how often does God use our painful past experiences to give us compassion and understanding to bring healing to others? We use forgetting to move forward but God can use our past for His kingdom.

Finally, for the bitterness we hold towards the abuse we have faced in life Hezekiah offers in Isaiah 38:17 – “Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” (Sounds a bit like Paul putting his past behind him.)

Thank you God for lovingly delivering my soul from the pit of corruption enabling me to become that which you have laid hold of me.

Happy New Year to all and for 2021, as we forge on for the great prize, let’s remember to forget!