The great American baseball player Satchel Paige once said in jest, "Don't look back- something may be gaining on you." I'm contrast, George Santayana, a Spanish thinker and writer, noted in 1905, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
So which is it? Do we move on, never looking back, or do we dwell on our past errors to avoid making them again?
Scripture seems to indicate that we should do a little of both. We do need to think back on our lives and learn from our mistakes. That's part of the process when we confess sins and ask God for forgiveness. We need to think about our disobedience long enough to seek God's mercy and then choose to "go and sin no more" (Jn.8:11). Forgiveness is God's way of clearing the slate. But it's our responsibility to depend on the strength of the Holy Spirit who lives within us to avoid repeating the errors of the past. The apostle Paul, for example, acknowledged his past mistakes, drew upon God's mercy, and then focused on becoming more like Christ (Phil.3:13-14).
So, is it best for us to look back or to look ahead? We would be wise to do a little of both: we need to look back for forgiveness, then look ahead to make progress.
>>> J. David Branon

Good morning