“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!” (Philipp 3:13-14)

We have here Paul’s wise theory of life — progress by forgetting, by letting go of the things that are past. The word forgetting also means to blot out of memory or to cut loose from. We cannot go back to the past mistakes and sins. But we can bring these to God who is able to bring glory to Himself by making new wisdom for us.

I heard of a story; a traveler found a place beside the sea, where many ships were dashed upon the rocks. Beautiful houses were built from pieces of wreckage gathered from the shore.

That is about the best many of us can do. We have little else to bring to God but wreckage — disobediences, broken commandments, mistakes, sins. Yet it is a wonderful thought that even with such materials, if we are truly penitent and repentant — our Master will work, helping us to build beauty in our lives. Sins forgiven become lessons for us. Out of a past full of failures, we may make a future full of strength and beauty — through the grace of Christ. We cannot forget our sins, but we may be wiser and better for them. Praise the Lord!

In the picture: Lake Huron is one of the five Great Fresh water Lakes of North America,  on the border of Canada and the United States. About 1000 ship wrecks lie in the depths of these lakes. The people around the lake dived and retrieved materials to build their beautiful homes from the remains of these ship wrecks.