FORGETTING THE PAST AND PRESSING TOWARD THE FUTURE (PT. 2)

BY P. MICHAEL

Text: Romans 12:1-2

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

SALVATION IS THE BEGINNING, NOT THE FINISHING LINE

One of the greatest misconceptions among believers today is the idea that giving one's life to Christ automatically guarantees spiritual growth and victory.

Salvation is the door.

Transformation is the journey.

Many people have given their lives to Christ, but they have never truly surrendered their hearts, their habits, their ambitions, their bodies, and their minds to Him.

They accepted Jesus as Savior but have refused to submit to Him as Lord.

The result is a generation of believers who profess Christ with their lips but still live under the influence of the things God delivered them from.

LEAVING EGYPT BUT KEEPING EGYPT INSIDE

The children of Israel left Egypt physically, but Egypt never left many of them spiritually.

God broke Pharaoh's grip over them, yet they continued to think like slaves.

Likewise, many Christians have left the world outwardly but still carry worldly values inwardly.

They attend church but consult traditions.

They sing worship songs but fear ancestral powers.

They pray in Jesus' Name but still place confidence in charms, superstitions, and cultural practices that contradict the Word of God.

The Scripture says:

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." — 2 Corinthians 5:17

You cannot become a new creature while still being controlled by old beliefs.

WHEN TRADITION BECOMES AN IDOL

Many believers claim to belong to Christ, yet there are traditional practices they dare not challenge.

There are festivals they fear to miss.

There are customs they obey more readily than Scripture.

There are ancestral traditions they respect more than the commands of God.

Jesus warned about this danger:

"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition." — Mark 7:13

Anything that competes with God's authority in your life has become an idol.

Christ did not save us so that we could combine light and darkness.

He saved us so that we could walk in the liberty of truth.

STOP BLAMING YESTERDAY

Another trap of the past is the habit of blaming others for our present condition.

Some people blame their parents.

Others blame former leaders.

Some blame society.

Others blame the economy.

While these challenges may be real, they cannot become excuses for permanent stagnation.

Wisdom learns from the past instead of living in it.

There were leaders who made mistakes.

There were leaders who disappointed expectations.

Yet every generation leaves behind lessons worth learning.

The mature believer studies both the successes and failures of yesterday and uses them to build a better tomorrow.

The Bible says:

"The wise man will hear, and will increase learning." — Proverbs 1:5

Complaining changes nothing.

Learning changes everything.

THE SIN OF SPIRITUAL LAZINESS

Many people desire change but refuse to embrace the principles that produce change.

They pray occasionally but neglect consistent prayer.

They desire wisdom but avoid studying.

They want opportunities but refuse preparation.

They seek results while avoiding responsibility.

Years pass, and the same excuses remain.

The same habits remain.

The same weaknesses remain.

The same complaints remain.

Yet God has already provided the tools for growth through His Word.

The Bible says:

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." — 2 Timothy 2:15

And again:

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." — Proverbs 13:4

Destiny is not built on wishes.

Destiny is built on discipline.

STOP REGRETTING WHAT GOD CAN REDEEM

Many believers spend years regretting decisions they made in the past.

"I regret entering that business."

"I regret marrying that person."

"I regret relocating."

"I regret that opportunity."

"I regret that investment."

"I regret that mistake."

But regret alone cannot change history.

God never called us to camp around regret.

He called us to seek redemption.

Even when we make mistakes, God's grace is still available.

The Apostle Paul himself persecuted the church before becoming one of its greatest builders.

Imagine if Paul had spent his life crying over his mistakes instead of pursuing God's purpose.

He would never have fulfilled his assignment.

The Scripture says:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." — Romans 8:28

Not some things.

All things.

Even your mistakes can become materials in God's hands.

WORK OUT WHAT GOD HAS WORKED IN

Many believers are waiting for God to do what He has already empowered them to do.

God has given His Word.

God has given His Spirit.

God has given gifts.

God has given opportunities.

God has given grace.

Now it is time to engage them.

The Bible says:

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." — Philippians 2:12-13

Notice that God works in us, but we must work it out.

Faith without action produces frustration.

Knowledge without application produces stagnation.

Potential without discipline produces disappointment.

THE CALL TO TOTAL SURRENDER

God is not asking for part of your life.

He wants all of it.

Your thoughts.

Your ambitions.

Your habits.

Your time.

Your body.

Your relationships.

Your future.

Your past.

Many people have surrendered their sins but have not surrendered themselves.

Yet true discipleship begins where complete surrender starts.

Jesus said:

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." — Luke 9:23

CONCLUSION

The challenge today is not whether you have given your life to Christ.

The greater question is:

Have you given Him your heart?

Have you given Him your mind?

Have you given Him your habits?

Have you given Him your future?

Have you given Him your past?

God cannot fully use what you refuse to surrender.

The believer who keeps looking backward will struggle to move forward.

The believer who continues excusing yesterday will never maximize today.

The believer who embraces God's principles will discover God's possibilities.

Forget the failures.

Forget the excuses.

Forget the fears.

Forget the regrets.

Forget the bondage of old thinking.

Press into prayer.

Press into study.

Press into obedience.

Press into purpose.

Press into your divine assignment.

For the God who saved you is also able to transform you.

Prayer

"Father, I surrender every area of my life to You. Deliver me from every old mindset, every ungodly tradition, every excuse, every fear, and every habit that hinders my growth. Help me to offer my body as a living sacrifice and walk fully in the purpose You have ordained for me. Give me the grace not only to be saved, but also to be transformed. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Michael Abu(P.Michael),is a social activist, theologian, policy political/political analyst,from Edo State.