Reaching Forward

 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14

Reaching forward, the permission from Paul to imagine all those horrible anxious things the demon of the future holds out to us? That would go directly against our Lord's command against worry. Reaching forward to the promises of Christ the Lord then? Oh yes, that's much better and, unlike the dark phantoms of anxiety, these are things which will come true in their proper time. We can think on Heaven! Yes, to be with our Lord Jesus is our eternal home, though it will not always be in Heaven. We might also think of the new Earth our Lord will recreate as He makes all things new. We can reach forward to the days when we will once more be at peace with the beasts of the field. Of course we have the wisdom the Lord has given to us and know that we do not reach out for the wild animals just yet. 

Anxious ruminations about a dark future that will never come does not belong to those who follow Christ. Reaching forward to the hope of things our Lord has promised - those are some good things to consider in our meditation on the Word! 

Have a great Friday in Christ!

Bucky