Forget the Former Things

by Timothy Howe


     Forget the former things;
       do not dwell on the past.
     See, I am doing a new thing!
       Now it springs us; do you not perceive it?
     I am making a way in the wilderness
        and streams in the wasteland.
                                       Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

These words came from one of Israel's most important prophets. Isaiah had previously pronounced an impending judgment that would come upon the nation as a result of turning away from God. After predicting this judgment, though, Isaiah promised that God would once again restore His people. In this promise, he evoked the many other times when God worked on behalf of His Chosen People. The verses preceding this one speak eloquently of all the times that God had delivered them. Now the Lord speaking through His prophet tells the people to forget all of that! It does not compare to what He is about to do. In fact, He states that he is already doing a new thing. 

It is very easy for all of us to get caught up in what is happening right now, whether good or bad, so that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Let's take this start of a new year to lift our eyes up and try to focus on what God is doing around us. I believe that we can perceive what God is doing around us if we keep four things in mind.

1. Don't dwell on past mistakes.
Judah was going to experience judgment because of its constant failure to meet God's standards of righteousness. The OT prophets listed charges against them of unrighteousness, hypocrisy, idolatry, neglect of the widows and orphans, exploitation of the foreigners in their land, and worst of all a heart that rebelled against God. Their mistakes were huge. But even as bad as they were, they did not completely alienate them from a God who wanted to redeem them. They could make a choice to put those mistakes behind them and prepare for something new.  

All people have regrets. Each person can quickly think of things that they wish had happened differently. Don't be a prisoner of your mistakes. Don't dwell on past mistakes. Yesterday is done. Tomorrow is waiting.

2. Don't dwell on past successes.
Interestingly, the list of things that Isaiah has just commanded the people of Judah to forget were not their misdeeds. He actually had just recited many of the times that God had worked on their behalf. Why would he want them to forget all of God's redemptive acts? Perhaps they had become too reliant on past victories and neglected to pursue present ones. We can be slaves of success as well. The people of Judah had come to think that they would never be judged for wrongdoing because, after all, God had always gotten them out of previous jams. Isaiah's call was one that reminded them that they needed to depend on God every day in a fresh way. 

Past successes are noteworthy. They can serve useful purposes as platforms for future efforts. But they can also become stumbling blocks. If we are not careful, past successes can create blind spots to our weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Don't dwell on past successes. Celebrate them accordingly. Then move on. It's time for a new work.

3. Expect God to be working around you.
Even in the worst of the judgment, God was still at work on behalf of the people of Judah. They would not see it for generations, but here was the promise. This was the promise that they would cling to when things were at their worst. 

Whenever life is at its worst, we can lose sight of the fact that nothing catches God by surprise. He created this world and is still in charge of it. Expect God to be working around you. Each morning pray that God will disclose that work and show you what He is up to.

4. Expect to participate in God's work.
Isaiah was alerting the people of Judah that not only was God working on their behalf, but He was offering them an invitation to join in that work. They were His chosen people. He still had a plan for their nation. Any who would join Him could participate in that plan. 

The same is true for us. Not only should we expect God to be working around us, we should expect that He desires for us to participate in His work. Are your spiritual eyes open to see what the Lord is doing? Expect God to be working and join Him in that work. Knowing that He is at work around us and that He desires us to be a part of that Divine work should free us up to try amazing things.

William Carey summed this up best. 

        Expect great things from God, 
        attempt great things for God.

So, in 2014 
Remember

Don't dwell on past mistakes
Don't dwell on past successes
Expect God to be at work around you
Expect to participate in God's work