[Biblemat] A) PRESS ON

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

PRESS ON

     In the 4th century BC, a promising Greek artist named Tim-
anthes was being instructed by a well-known tutor.  After sev-
eral years, the young painter finally created a superb portrait.
He was so proud with what he had painted that he sat day
after day fixated at his work.

     Soon after, however, he was appalled to discover that his
teacher had purposely ruined his painting.  In great anger he
ran to his tutor and asked why he had destroyed his most
cherished accomplishment.  The wise man replied, "I did it for
your own good.  That painting was retarding your progress.
It was an excellent piece of art, but it was not perfect.  Start
again and see if you can do even better."  Timanthes took his
advice and produced a masterpiece called "Sacrifice of Iphig-
enia," regarded by some as oen of the best paintings of ancie-
nt times.

     God never wants us to be content with looking back on 
our accomplishments.  He wants us to reach even higher lev-
els of service and godliness.  Paul recognized this, for even
though he was a godly man and accomplished much, he ad-
mitted that he still needed to advance in holiness (Phil. 3:12-
14).  "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already be-
come perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of
that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethr-
en, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: 
forgetting what lies behind and reaching for-
ward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the 
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

     (1 Cor. 9:26,27).  "Therefore I run thus: not with uncertain-
ty.  Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline
my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preach-
ed to others, I myself should become disqualified."

     We cannot live our lives looking behind us at what we have done before.  
Likewise we don't need to let the failures
of our past hinder us either.  With God's help, we must keep
pressing on!      ------ Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light,
Vol. 7, No. 11, March 2007.   </HTML>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070418/533da47c/attachment-0001.html