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Walt Disney said, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." My father used to say, "Curiosity killed the cat." While I respect the incredible accomplishments of our Missouri boy, Walt Disney, I think my father, also a Missouri boy, may have had more insight to moving forward. Coming from one who believes strongly in moving forward, I think it's important as Christians to move forward in faith, not folly. Certainty not curiosity. Faith is a much better motivation to take the next steps.

As we head into the New Year, it's important that we look forward to the future with certainty from the scripture. Reflecting on the past is very important because that is how we learn from our mistakes and rejoice in God's victories. Nonetheless, what aligns our walk with God and propels us forward is not looking back, but focusing forward in faith.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:12-15

Though we are complete in Christ positionally, the reality of our daily walk is a constant reminder that we are still being perfected in practicality as we battle against the world the flesh and the devil. Even if 2016 was the worst year of your life, if you are saved, you not only have eternity to look forward to, but the next steps in your walk with Jesus. You have permission to forget the things behind and focus forward, reaching forth unto those things which are before. God is not done with you, even if you have made a mess of things. If God were done with you, he would take you home to heaven. But the fact that we are here means God has purpose, meaning and a plan for our life. You have God's word on it! Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6

A Good Work

It is so encouraging to know that if you are a believer the work God is doing in you is a "good work". One of the keys to focusing forward is considering Jesus' focus on the promises of his word. As we consider how Jesus pressed forward in the face of his most difficult days of humanity, we remember that we too are more than conquers through Christ. Even when we look back to the cross, the scriptures say we are looking “unto Jesus” because his is both eternal and exalted, which draws us forward in a supernatural strength as we hope in his victory.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:2-3

Do the math, focusing forward is so much more glorious than looking behind. We are drawn like a magnet to the hope that is set before us as we run with patience the race God has set before us. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

There are many incredible things to look forward to as individuals -- if we are saved -- and corporately as the body of Christ. You will want to make sure you attend every Sunday service in January as God gives us insight in to our focus for 2017.

Moving Forward Keyed by Scripture

Henry Ford once said, "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." While Henry was on to something, the scripture gives us more insight on how to move forward as a body and have success. The only mention of success in the scripture is found in Joshua 1:8 and it cannot be divorced from the meditation upon and fulfilling of God's word for our lives. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

Know and doing God's word is critical to a prosperous future. Despite our desire to move forward, we can allow disobedience to hinder us. Our obedience and disobedience also impacts the body of Christ. The works of the flesh hinder and even stop the work of God in the individual and the body of Christ. We hold the future in our hands when we obey God's word. Even when hopes may seem to die, God is greater than our circumstance. In Numbers 13, Joshua and Caleb were willing to enter the Promised Land, but the faithless spies -- and therefore the children of Israel -- didn't believe the report that God was well able to overcome the giants that were set before them. Whatever the giants in our path of moving forward, we must face them in faith. Joshua and Caleb did maintain their focus and received the promise though they had to wait on it to come.

Lord’s Supper Jan. 29

One of the biggest giants we face does not come from without but from within. The Lord's Supper serves as a supernatural reminder to cleans our hearts of all that would keep us from going forward in faith. In this "remembrance" we look back to go forward. While it may seem contrary to "forgetting those things that are behind," it is not. It is when we look at Jesus and what he endured -- the cross, despising the shame so that we could receive pardon for our sin -- that we find the grace to both receive and extend forgiveness. When we remember we have been forgiven, it liberates us to forgive others so that we can focus on the things before us instead of dwelling perpetually on the things behind. Even the things behind that have resulted from no fault of our own but have now become sin because we harbor bitterness, wrath and malignity in our heart.

Jesus willingly shared the Passover feast, washed the disciples’ feet, prayed in the garden and laid down his life for a group of men who didn't fully understand him, endure in prayer with him during his most needful hour, stand with him when falsely accused or stay with him as he was sacrificed as a Lamb to take away the sin of the world (with the exception of John). Jesus pressed forward for their sakes crying, "forgive them for they know not what they do." While that plea applied to Israel, the Romans and humanity in general, it also applied to his close friends, his disciples, whom he also died to save.

Don’t allow faithlessness nor unforgiveness rob you of the ability to move forward in faith. Hillary Clinton is cited as saying, "Forgiveness is a way of opening up doors again and moving forward, whether it's a personal life or national life." Wow, that is actually a true statement from a politician! I don't know how well Hillary is doing with her own advice, but it is sound nonetheless. It is for this reason alone that we are careful to celebrate the Lord's Supper Jan. 29, 2017, at 6 p.m. I am praying for 100 percent attendance to the January Lord's Supper (minus our shut-ins who are always included) because God has so many great things in store for HBF in the coming days, weeks, months and years before us that the time is now to forget what is behind and focus in faith in what God has before us.