Forget What Is Behind, Strain Toward What Is Ahead
VBC Albuquerque · Feb 11, 2024
This sermon, based on Philippians 3:12-14, teaches that believers must forget what is behind so they are not held captive by the chains of the past. Though Paul had served Christ for nearly thirty years, he did not consider himself perfect but focused on one thing: forgetting the past and straining toward what lies ahead. The sermon explains three major chains that hinder spiritual growth: past mistakes and failures, past accomplishments, and criticism from others.
The sermon opens with a story of two friends, in which one is anxious about the future because the past did not go as desired, resulting in a state of confusion about what to do in the present. This is a common human condition: torn between a past full of regrets, a present plagued by worry, and an uncertain future. Apostle Paul, who conducted three missionary journeys, established numerous churches, and wrote nearly half the epistles of the New Testament, made this observation about himself: "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it" (Philippians 3:13a). This is not false humility but the realistic attitude of a believer who devoted his entire life to serving God.
The sermon explains that "forgetting" in Scripture does not mean erasing from memory, but rather refusing to allow the influences of the past to hinder or imprison the present life. Three major chains are identified: (1) mistakes, losses, failures, and their consequences—illustrated through Adam and Eve, Noah, David, and other biblical figures; (2) glorious achievements of the past that cause people to live in nostalgia rather than progress; (3) criticism and blame from others, which have powerful destructive effects on relationships. The sermon points out that the true value of the past lies in the lessons that can be learned, not in regret or indulgence in what was.
The sermon illustrates with Paul's decision to go to Jerusalem despite knowing he would be arrested—a decision many scholars consider a mistake. However, the sermon emphasizes that God, through grace, can use even mistakes to accomplish His purposes. Because of this decision, Paul was imprisoned in Rome and wrote four immensely valuable epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon), and later three more (Titus, 1-2 Timothy)—a total of seven epistles, more than half of Paul's thirteen epistles in the New Testament. Another example is Peter: after denying Jesus three times, he was not condemned but asked "Do you love me?" three times—through love, Jesus removed the chains of Peter's past.
The second section emphasizes the power of absolute focus on one thing alone. Paul writes: "But one thing I do"—not several things or many things. The sermon illustrates the power of concentration with images of a magnifying glass creating fire from sunlight, or a laser beam with extraordinary brightness. Joseph, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned, forgot his suffering so that God could use him to save Egypt and his own family. The names of Joseph's two sons—Manasseh (God made me forget my hardship) and Ephraim (God made me fruitful)—reveal his determination to forget what was behind and strain toward what was ahead. The sermon reminds us that the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon, where many begin but few finish. Those who finish are not special or full of grace, but those who deliberately focus, rely on God's strength, and persevere despite stumbling, failure, or sin.
This is why composer Trần Thượng Trí wrote the hymn "Walking Together" with the spirit: though the road is long, Jesus always stands beside us, guiding us through difficulty. The sermon concludes with a call to action: believers must rely on the power of God's Word, the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the encouragement of family and brothers and sisters in Christ to follow Paul's example—forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead with the goal of winning the prize, which is the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.