Saturday, May 14, 2016, I attended my sister’s graduation at Anderson University in South Carolina. All I was expecting was to see my sister walk across a stage, receive her diploma, get pictures and then move on, but I came away from that graduation with a valuable life lesson and growth in my faith.
The commencement speaker at the graduation was Dr. T Walter Brashier, a Baptist preacher who had co-owned millions of square feet of commercial property and owned one of the largest airline service companies in the country. He came with a simple message out of the book of Philippians. He stated simply, “This one thing I do, I forget those things which are behind, and I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus .”
This message is so clear, concise and yet so simple. We as humans can so easily become entangled in our pasts. Although, the message states that we are to “ forget those things which are behind," we are not to forget the good things in life. As Dr. Brashier said in his commencement speech, “You are to remember [things like] your childhood, and those who have been kind to you and sacrificed for you: teachers, parents, siblings." Remember things that bring you joy and drive you in your day-to-day activities. There is such a multitude of things in life that we shouldn’t forget that bring us great joy and happiness; nevertheless, there are things you need to forget.
Darkness and pain from your past can seem to creep back into your present situation, which can be so binding and burdensome, yet the passage states to “ forget those things which are behind, and to press on toward the mark. ” In forgetting those things which are causing you pain, hurt, worry or doubt, you are freeing yourself from a world of chaos and disarray. Brashier said, “You’re to forget your failures, your sins, you’re to do something about them, those black hours that are continually brought up in our minds. But how do you forget these things? By putting them at the feet of Jesus.” When you place your failures, troubles and struggles at the feet of Jesus, you are able to be freed from your pain, sorrow and struggles because He frees those who are in Him. Once you give up your troubles and pains of your past to Jesus, you can be assured that they are wiped clean and washed away. All you must do is believe that.
You can press toward the mark! This life is temporary and we all know that time flies, so don’t let your past hinder you. In using this message, we may forget those things which weigh us down, so that we may live freely and in peace in Christ!
