Forget About It!
It’s probably just coincidence but I’ve seen a trend lately with folks fixating on blame and responsibility. Problems come along and when a customer, vendor, or colleague discovers they may be even partially part of the root cause of the problem, they become apologetic or even self-deprecating in a bad way. Sometimes people even apologize to me profusely over things that aren’t even their fault and couldn’t be. My response is almost always to assure them that I take no offense and even if it was their fault, I’m not a backward-looking person. Life, professional or otherwise, is about looking forward, learning from mistakes, and moving on. None of us are perfect nor will be until perfected by our Creator in the New Jerusalem.
Christianity’s main theme is redemption and forgiveness. If we had no reason to repent, we would have no need for a Savior! Look at what Paul, one who persecuted the Church of God to great length prior to being converted, says about moving on:
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 of God in Christ Jesus. Phi 3:13-14 (NASB)
This is coming from Paul, one who’s sins were piled incredibly high. It is interesting to note that Paul was a highly educated theologian who missed the boat on the Messiah. His sins derived from his erroneous view of theology because he thought he knew all the right answers! Wow, doesn’t that apply to each and every bible-believing Christian ever?
Those of us who have taken responsibility for our own salvation through study of the Bible have all made errors in understanding, teaching, and application of the WORD. Perhaps we were part of faulty denominations or perhaps we became very dogmatic over doctrines we didn’t fully understand and lead someone else astray. But what Paul wrote was not to dwell on the past, move forward! Press on toward the goal! Focus on the prize! And here is one part of that prize:
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. Isa 65:17 (NASB)
At some point in the future, those who are saved and granted eternal life, will not remember the former things. Our regrets, our sins, our errors, pain, sin, death, and all negative things that have happened will not be remembered anymore. If God has promised this, why not start today. Forgive yourself for past mistakes, and also, perhaps more importantly, forgive others for past mistakes as well. Forget about it!
