When we forget something, it means we clear it out of our minds. Forgetting is detachment; letting go of the thought, the experience, and the feelings that come with it.
To forget something that is behind us, we need to look ahead. If I broke my kitchen blender, for instance, staring at it for hours isn’t going to help me forget it and creating a memorial corner where I hang up the broken blender will doubtless keep it in my mind forever. To forget, we need to change direction and move away from whatever it is we want to forget. Forgetting can be involuntary sometimes. However, it can also be voluntary. We can decide to forget something. To not consciously recall it and when we do unconsciously recall it, we immediately change our train of thought to focus on something else until we can no longer recall that offending thought.
Remember Lots wife? She couldn’t forget what she was leaving behind and she turned back. Her judgement was instant. She turned into a pillar of salt. Elisha on the other hand did the complete opposite. He literally burnt all the things that would have kept him hooked on the past.
“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.” 1 Kings 19:21
How do we forget?
How do we forget the things that are behind? Simple! By Setting our hearts on things that are before us. What we think about, and what we set our minds on affects our thoughts and actions.
“As he thinketh in his heart so is he”- Prov. 23:7. Jesus said “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matt. 6:21
When we set our hearts upon what God has promised in the future, we will be resolved to focus our efforts,and our thoughts toward that mark.
Focus on the mark
When Paul talks about the great men and women of faith, he identifies them as those who ‘are looking for a country of their own. Those who “… were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11.
As children of God, there are 3 major marks we are trying to reach, striving to attain. These marks should be the reason we forget the things that are behind us. Because we cannot attain these marks if we keep looking at the things we left behind, or the things we should leave behind.
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Becoming like Christ
This is our first and all-consuming goal as Christians. Actually, that is what our title ‘Christian’ means. Being like Christ is the first and probably the most important mark we need to set our sights on. Because while we have the opportunity to walk with Christ here on earth, we have been made a great promise that one day, we would have the opportunity to be like Christ.
1 john 2:3
‘Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is’
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Having a part in the first resurrection
In 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Paul asks us to encourage ourselves with this hope of a resurrection. It is easy to forget how short and unpredictable life is. When we forget this, then we are unable to forget the things that we have left behind us. Therefore as Christians, we need to focus on the promise of the resurrection ahead.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
Just think of how beautiful that day would be.
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To be on the new earth
This is the ultimate mark. When we think of our life on earth we can be certain that the challenges far outweigh any sort of achievements we may have accrued. However when we remember that it doesn’t all end here and that there is so much beyond awaiting us, then we truly can stand firm and strive towards our heavenly goal.
If we are as determined as Paul was to make the kingdom of God the sole object of our life’s efforts, we shall not be disappointed. God promises
“See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.”
Isaiah 65:17-18
Think of Moses
Moses had faith. Moses chose to forget the things behind, the promise of fame wealth, and kingship. He chose instead to face hardship and poverty. He chose disgrace for the sake of Christ, to be mistreated with the people of God and Hebrews 11 tells us why – Because he was looking ahead to his reward.
Hebrews 11:26
“ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
We must look ahead and forget the things which are behind.