September 7

Stand At The Bow!

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. — Phil 3:13-14 BSB

Always stand at the bow! Leave the stern with its backward view and press forward. Spending time in regretful reflection on past sins and failures is not the best use of them. Confess them, and trust that for Christ’s sake, they are completely forgiven! Failure often provides the foundation for future success, and our past mistakes can become stepping stones to better things. Didn’t our Lord say to His disciples: “Sleep on now and take your rest”—the past is behind us—but then immediately added: “Arise, let us be going!”—the future is ahead of us. So, leave the stern and its backward view and move toward the bow.

Yes, the sky before us may be dark with storm clouds. People say the world is casting off its old foundations without replacing them with better ones; that seven civilizations have already passed, and now we will see the death of the eighth. But they forget that God holds the stormy waters in the hollow of His hand; that Jesus walked on the threatening waves to rescue His disciples. They forget that when the earth was formless and empty, the Spirit of God hovered over the chaos and darkness, creating the heavens and the earth. They do not hear the Creator's voice saying, “Behold, I make all things new!” Out of chaos is born order. Each age ends with difficulty, out of which a new age is born.

Look out to the wide horizon and prepare for the new lands to explore, the wonderful discoveries awaiting us, and the great missions in the future waiting to be fulfilled. Never doubt that the clouds will break. Never believe that evil will triumph. Never think that you are abandoned by God. The Master may seem to be asleep on His pillow, unconcerned, but His hand is on the helm. He guides your course. He commands the waves, and they obey Him.

Prayer

He makes the storm calm, so that the waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He brings them to their desired haven. Oh, that people would praise the Lord for His goodness! Amen.