GOING FORWARD...

    "Going forward" is a common catch phrase  used today. It suggests a certain action to be taken from this present time and extended into the future. We read a similar statement in 1Peter 4:2-3 which tells us that for those of us who are trusting Christ ought have the same attitude with regards to sin, i.e., that we 'should live the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles..." NKJV
      We might use another common phrase, 'enough is enough', to express the thoughts contained in this passage. What Peter is saying is that for the child of God, things are to be different 'going forward'. Having spent our lives up to this point 'doing the will of the Gentiles', a phrase referring to living apart from God, we should from this time on, seek to live according to the will of God. Consider with me that:
      (1) Life is short, so we must make the best use of it. We must choose whether the greatest benefit in eternity will come from having lived in the will of God, or yielded to the lusts of the flesh. We get only one day at a time, and tomorrow is not assured us.
      (2)  We must then, accept each day as a part of God's Plan. Today is what we have, we cannot go back and change the past, nor can we live in the future. We can make plans, but we do not have the assurance that our plans will come to fruition. We must submit our plans to the will of God. We read 453 times in the KJV the phrase "it came to pass". While time waits for no one, neither do God's plans. It is He who orders our days...and He what He is doing today is a part of His plan. It fits in the puzzle of tomorrow.
      (3)  So, we must become 'eternity conscious', remembering that we are strangers and pilgrims here, headed there. Let's determine to live for the will of God, going forward.
A favorite song from the early days in my high school youth group, written by Jack Wyrtzen comes to mind, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" might be worth a Youtube search for you.