Rev. A.J. Ogden

Someone has well said, “We need to live in daylight compartments.” I think he meant, “Don’t worry about unpleasant things, failures and sorrows of days gone by.” The great apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, “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.”

You’ll never find better advice for a good life. Worry about mistakes of the past will never do us any good. Yesterday is history, now is what counts, and tomorrow, if we have it. When we are tempted to be troubled about those who mistreated us years ago, we are only wasting valuable time that could be used for God. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Paul said, “I’m pressing on,” and he was going the upward way for the high grounds of God and His service.

We have all seen folks who fret and worry so much about what happened years ago, causing them not to be very useful for God now. What a waste! Paul said that with the Lord’s help he would forget all the yesterdays and press on for God as opportunity presents itself. Many are bitter about past events when they could be better! Lord help us to be the latter!

If anyone ever had cause to be angry and bitter about their past persecution, it would have been Paul. He spent much time in jail, simply for preaching God’s word. He was cursed and beaten on many occasions, and did without and sacrificed more than any man I know! He sang his praises to God to a Philippian jail and God came to his rescue. Finally, dying for the cause of Christ and the salvation of mankind, he left us a good example. When trouble comes to us, let it make us better, but not bitter.