Article November 24, 1934 ISSUE

Forward, Not Backward!

LILY R. SCHAFER

"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." When writing these words to the Philippians, Paul had thought fixed on the spiritual ideal. Of an active, zealous nature, while as yet not comprehending the reality of the spiritual creation, he had sought to persecute the followers of Jesus. Awakened from the dream of life in matter, he turned his gaze from the blindness, the inability, of mortal mind to view the beauty of the life eternal. A new enthusiasm animated him, for his vision had been clarified. With loving, tender zeal he reached out to uplift and to bless, instead of to condemn and to persecute. Exhorting, admonishing, patiently guiding, he sought to lead others away from the mirage of mortal beliefs into the sunlight of spiritual understanding.

With clear-cut precision, Paul severed his connection with the past of error and steadfastly turned to the truth, in the direction he intended to travel from then on. He understood that he could not afford to allow vain regrets regarding the past to act as dead weights to retard his progress in the present. In other words, he turned his face toward heaven, spiritual harmony, and was determined to keep it turned in that direction.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Thanksgiving
November 24, 1934
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit