Each day that we live, in each moment we call now, two opposing frames of time have the capacity to influence our every thought and deed.
What are these two frames of time?
The past and the future.
There are some whose days — whose entire lives, in fact — are dictated by all that happened before. It determines their emotions and attitudes, their actions and interactions. For them, everything is shaped by what took place back then.
And then there are those who are always looking ahead. They’re not focused on what used to be. Their eyes are fixed what on can be, and what will be.
Can you guess which frame of time is the better influence for your life?
Now, to clarify an obvious point. The Bible does tell us to remember some things about the past. The great works of God. His love and faithfulness. His grace and forgiveness. Of course we remember, and of course we let these shape our lives in the present.
But we know which parts of the past we must abandon. Failures. Offenses. Regrets. Disappointments. And sins — ours and others. All these drag us down. This is why Paul said…
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Let’s not be driven today by events from long ago. This leads nowhere. Yes, it may be true, for the moment, that the past is easier to see. That’s because it once was real. But now it is no more.
The future is where God is calling us to abide — not just someday, but this day. The truth of tomorrow will guide us through each moment that we call now.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
© 2025. Today’s post was adapted from a message in Steve’s series Tomorrow Today.
