Press On

A long time favourite movie in our house is Lion King. Okay – probably everyone else has moved on but it is still one of my favourite movies.

There is a scene in Lion King where Pumba and Timmon are talking with the young Simba, who is depressed, discouraged, even despondent over an event in his past that he cannot change. Pumba’s advice is “you gotta put your behind in the past.” Timmon corrects him with “it’s put your past behind you.”

Simple advice. Not easy advice to follow.

We all have a past. Scenes from our past can be like a bad movie that plays and replays in our minds. Those scenes can range from anything mildly embarrassing to downright horrible. Things done that should not have been done. Things left undone. Regrets. Shame.

Let me tell you about a guy who had a past. He was a deeply religious man. Well educated. Zealous for God. A young man with a future.

This young man oversaw an execution, giving his approval. He dragged men and women off to prison. Violent. Judgemental. Nasty business.

But – God called his name. Saul the persecutor – called by God. Still, that’s a lot of past to put behind you. Even if you manage to do it, someone else is bound to bring it up. “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem?” (Acts 9:21)

What do you do with that kind of past?

Paul (same guy – new name) said that you press on. You put your past behind you and you press on.

It is not denial. It is choosing to go forward.

I wonder if scenes from Paul’s past replayed in his mind from time to time. He does make reference to his past.

I wonder if the accuser…accused him. “Who do you think you are Paul...how can you call yourself an apostle…remember what you did…remember the screams of the people that you beat as you dragged them off to prison…remember Stephen, Paul…remember watching him die…who do you think you are….”

Have you ever heard those accusations…who do you think you are? For the past that each of us has, there is forgiveness and there is grace. There is also a choice – to live there or to press on.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13b, 14)

Ruth