By F. D. Adkins
My son graduated from high school this week, and of course, most of the speakers and comments were focused on the end of this phase of their lives and the beginning of the next. And entering a new phase of life involves change. For some, especially me, embracing change is not easy. I have a routine or that nice comfortable box we often hear about that is so hard to step outside of.
Ironically, earlier in the week I was looking up verses on fear and worry and thinking about how the enemy uses these tactics in his attack. One of the verses that I took note of was Philippians 3:13-14 which says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (KJV).
Paul often compares our Christian life to a race. Obviously, in a race, one needs to keep moving forward to cross the finish line, but in Philippians 3:13 (KJV), Paul uses the word reach which I take to mean that the plans God has for our future are going to require us to make an effort to go beyond that comfortable little box. I like to run on the treadmill, so as I pondered on this verse and Paul’s comparison to a race, I thought about what would happen if I didn’t move my legs or if I tried to look backward. Just as time continues to move, the belt on that treadmill is going to keep moving. If I don’t move my legs, I’m still going to move, but not in the right direction. If I try to look backward, (note that I am forty-five years old), I am going to lose my balance, and the result is not going to be pretty.
In Matthew 16:23, look at the words Jesus uses in speaking to Peter. “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23 KJV). The devil uses our weaknesses to attack us, and here I notice that Jesus tells Satan to get behind Him. I often think the devil distracts us with things in our past to keep us from moving forward. If we aren’t moving forward, we can’t accomplish the goals God has set for us. In a sense, we become paralyzed and never get outside that box.
Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. In the same way, if we keep looking back, we can become like a statue frozen in the same position never moving forward. Let’s not let the enemy prevent us from doing what God has called us to do. Let’s step outside that box, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Bible Verses For the Week:
