Moving on UP
Study on the Baggage of Legacy
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Loaded Down with the Past
All of us remember “The Jeffersons” TV program. George and Louise Jefferson were ‘moving on up to the East Side to the deluxe department in the skies.’ They had built a small business to a thriving enterprise through hard work and good decisions. What if George and Louise had decided, ‘we’re going to take all of our old stuff’ over to our new place? It would have been disastrous. Even though they encountered a lot of barriers, they also had the attitude of moving forward toward better goals and better living. They moved on up.
There comes a time when we as Believers in Jesus must move on up. We cannot allow the past to become a stumbling block. Listen carefully to the Apostle Paul’s self-assessment of where he was in his faith. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
At what point does historical reflection become a stumbling block to progressive action and the attainment of success? I agree that if something has been used as an idol, it should be torn down. Especially if that idol does not honor ALL God’s people nor does it promote God’s Kingdom work. I agree that if a relic of the past has caused people to suffer, and others to stumble because it does not represent fairness, justice, equality, and unity, it needs to go. It is an idol. I also notice that there are ideologies, legacies, and influences that are IDLES in the sense that they no relevance as to what needs to happen now. The “idles” are things that we do, so that when we do them, it makes no difference at all.
Let me explain. Many of us can remember the days of the Polaroid Instamatic Camera. You would buy a packet of film and then take it out of the packet, insert in the camera, and off you go taking pictures. With every snap, you would wait for the picture to pop out the front of the camera, wait for 30 seconds, and then peel back the film and you would have a nice picture. Not exactly suitable for framing but it captured the moment. It worked then and it was nice. Can you imagine trying to use the Polaroid cameras today in the fast-paced digital world? Yet that is exactly where many are in their thinking, their practices, and their policies when it comes to the Church. Our methods are old Polaroids. Many are doing the same things they did back in the Sixties and Seventies, with a few minor changes. The songs we sang then, we’re “sanging” the same songs now, we still use the same Sunday School books, we collect offering the same way. Not a whole lot changed. Then, some have the nerve to pray for a move of God. When God is saying, “not until you move.” Then all of a sudden, the coronavirus hit, and the Church was suddenly thrown into a different arena. The stuff that worked way back when didn’t work anymore.
It is a new day and it is a shake up for the Church. The Good News is that the Church will survive and even thrive. I agree that we will need to do some soul searching, but we’ll survive. Jesus said, “not even the gates of Hell shall prevail against God’s Church.” We will move on up!
It took a pandemic to convince us that some of the stuff we were complaining about is not important now. It is not important whether the choir wore white robes or blue robes. It is not important if the Deacon prayed too long. It is not important if you didn’t get to sit in your favorite seat, because you can’t go into the Church.
Now all of a sudden, things have shifted. Prayer is at the top of the to-do-list now in Churches. Calling the seniors and checking on them is now important. Helping the local food bank and homeless mission have now risen to the top of the agenda when actually, it should have been there all along. If we are to progress in the Kingdom work, we must take advantage of every opportunity to MOVE ON UP!
Leaving the Baggage of the Past
The Baggage of Legacy may be chalked full of wonderful memories, but they cannot replace the actions required now. When the Apostle Paul made the statement, “I have not attained,” he recognized that infatuation over the past IS a hindrance to the future.
So how do you leave the Baggage of Legacy? There are four powerful lessons in this verse that help us. First, recognize the past for what it is: it is history (forgetting those things which are behind). Second, focus on the one most important thing (this one thing I do). Third, exert the energy to achieving God’s goal (I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus). Four, inspire others toward the same goal (Brethren …).
If you are going to move on up you must let go of the baggage of legacy. Paul was not about to let his past performance deter him from his present assignment. We criticize the racist because they wave a rebel flag and point to a statue of some Confederate leader, and yet we have built our own monuments to the past. While it is certainly fitting to remember the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we cannot expect for him to lead us now. We must not allow ourselves to spend all our times recognizing the heroes of the past and miss our opportunity to be a hero now. This may upset some people, but at the same time, we must act while we have opportunity.
As we recognize history for what it is, there are certain things that belong in the museum and in the history books. Much like the Polaroid camera, we should appreciate it for its use back then. Don’t even try to using it today. Allow the sayings and expressions of Dr. King to inspire you to dream higher and Move On Up. Joshua was shaken by the death of Moses, but God said to him “Moses is dead … now (You) go over this Jordan.”
You move on up by focusing on the single most important thing and the single most important person. No one was more important to Paul than the Lord Jesus Christ. When he said, “this one thing I do,” he was referring to Christ Jesus. If we are to Move On Up for the Kingdom of God, we must not allow ourselves to use Christ as a means of achieving an earthly goal. Don’t use Christ for political gain. Don’t use Christ for economic gain. Don’t use Christ to get a crown for yourself. Don’t use Christ as a wedge to create an image that looks like you. Because guess what? When Christ returns, it will not matter what political party you joined, how much money you made, or how famous you were. If you are going to move on up, then do it for Jesus.
You move on up by exerting energy for the goal of living for Jesus. This is the one that convicts me the most. I wish I could tell you that everything I do, every day, is to honor and reach for the goal of Christ. I admit, I don’t do that. Can I do that? Yes! Will I do that becomes the powerful question? What would motivate me to do everything for the glory of Jesus Christ? Well, if I knew He could come back at anytime; that would do it. If I could look ahead and see myself standing before Christ; that would do it. Here’s the point. If you truly love the Lord Jesus, you would want to serve Him TOTALLY. Go ahead, move on up. Paul did, so why can’t you?
Lastly, we move on up by determining that we will inspire and cheer others on to achieve the same goal. Look at it this way, there are a lot of people running this Christian race; you’re not the only child of God. Why would you even try to run alone, when we as the People of God can inspire each other. Much like the flock of geese that fly for hundreds of miles to their destination, we simply need to get in formation. Like those geese, we can offer encouragement to the one that is leading. Maybe we can say, “Move on Up.” We must forget the past and remember that the prize of Christ is before us. I know that forgetting is difficult, but think about the heavy price-tag of unforgiveness. Move on up in Jesus Name.