Revisiting Ancient Ruins

“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.” Phil. 3:13b-14

Throughout the world ancient ruins can be found from civilization to civilization. Our culture has a deep fascination with these ruins as they speak to us from the rubble regarding their past. They tell stories to enrich our imaginations helping us catch a glimpse of their motivations, beliefs and passions.

In an eerie way our past emotional ruins beckon us in the same manner as worldly physical ruins of the past beckon our imaginations. In our own lives there have been takeovers, defeats, building up and tearing down of our hearts. We look back at our circumstances that both wounded and defined us as the skeletal remains still lay scattered upon the landscapes of our hearts. We revisit the grounds in an effort to rehash, reconsider and sometimes resurrect what needs to stay undisturbed. We kneel to the ground and plunder through the rubble knowing nothing will change but resurrected emotions, entitlements, regrets and guilt.

God exhorts us to stay forward focused in both our walk and our faith. Our emotional ruins will never be what they once were and will never provide the community in which God desires us to dwell. Our ruins are abandoned places in our hearts that cannot provide any protection from the elements, and lack stability in its structure. While there is importance in looking behind it is only in recognizing the deliverance and protection God provided through our experiences. God knew the difficulty of “straining toward what is ahead” as He walked the earth in flesh through the body of Christ. The manner in which He suffered was great but necessary for the benefit of each of us experiencing eternal life. He left behind the sins of mankind and strained towards eternal life for each of us.

The base of the cross is a much more life giving place to visit than the ancient ruins of our hearts.