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What direction is your faith facing today?
During these changing, challenging times of uncertainty, a lot of people are looking back to what they thought were the good old days. Most of us who have lived for any substantial period of time know the good old days were not as good as we thought they were. Solomon concurs with that judgment in Ecclesiastes 7:10. “Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. If the good old days were not as good as we thought, then where should we be investing our thought and energy? In which direction should we be looking for a successful and fulfilling future? The way our faith is faced determines what God can do in our lives and what goals we can achieve. Whether our good old days were good or not so good, to go forward you and I have to face forward with faith. Paul knew this. Writing from jail the Apostle of grace penned these words. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 Paul, who as Saul persecuted Christians before surrendering his life to Christ, determined to do one thing: face forward by forgetting the past and reaching for the future in Christ. Sounds easy huh? Not so fast. Our daily struggle is to face forward when life’s stresses pull on and pressure us to face backward. The look back to yesterday is easy but unfruitful and frustrating. The look forward to today and tomorrow is harder but fruitful and fulfilling. Paul’s faith was facing the right direction. Paul honestly admits that he had not arrived yet to Christian perfection (complete maturity), but he was arriving day by day (Philippians 3:12). Paul pressed on to be whole and complete in Christ in the midst of adversity. He advanced through adversity because he faced forward. When tremendous trials tempted Paul to pull back, he faced forward and moved forward to overcome his challenges. The goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ is forward and upward. Too many “people of faith” spend their time facing backwards. What people talk about and dwell upon locates their life direction. Is it any wonder some people’s lives never seem to move forward? How can you possibly move forward when you are always looking back? Try moving forward while you are looking back. You guessed it. You will fall down on your face. We cannot go forward if we are facing backwards. If we are facing backwards, we cannot reach forward. We cannot press on and reach forward when looking back. Facing yesterday robs us of the future today and tomorrow holds. The way I face determines the vision I see and the steps I take. When we face forward, we see forward. A future full of God blessed opportunities lies forward. When we face backwards, we see backwards. And who needs to see the past (with its glory and grind) again? Once is enough! Let’s face it. Life is tough enough at times when we face forward. It certainly will not improve or become any easier if we are facing the wrong way. Think about these “face forward” folks in the Bible.
(Your name) faced forward…and did what for God’s glory? Our future in Christ is forward. The face of faith faces forward. So face forward by faith and reach boldly for the prize of becoming more like Jesus and fulfilling His perfect will for your life. Life always turns out better when we face forward. “Then Joshua said to the people, “GO FORWARD, and march around the city (Jericho), and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord.” Joshua 6:7 “But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and LOOKING BACK, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 A Word For Your Week: Face forward to go forward. |
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