THE GAZE OF TIMANTHES

 "Friends, I don’t reckon I’m all that good yet, but I keep on looking ahead. I’m like a man running in a race. I forget what I did in the past, and I think about what God wants me to do later. I keep trying to be like Jesus, so that God will take me up to properly join up with Jesus. That will be my prize" - Philippians 3:13‭-‬14 (PEV)

There is a story of a young Greek artist named Timanthes who studied under a respected tutor. After several years, the teacher’s efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, Timanthes ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. ‘I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. Start again and see if you can do better.’ Timanthes took his teacher’s advice and produced Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which is regarded as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.

There are certain things we must pay attention to in the beginning of every new year if we truly want the year to be more prosperous than the former year. One of such thing was mentioned in the Epistle of Paul to the believers in Philippi (Phil 3:13-14). In that scripture, believers were advised not to rest on their oars but rather believe that their best is yet to come. They must not allow their past achievements to retard their progress in life. 

Friends, although it is good to cherish your past successes, you must not allow them to retard your progress this year. When you set your gaze on your past laurels for too long, there is tendency that you may become too complacent to strive for better achievements in life. When you bask in the euphoria of your past successes like Timanthes, you may deny the world of the greater works of grace that God promised to unveil to the world through you in the new year (John 14:12). Past successes not properly viewed and managed can become stumbling blocks on the way to higher pedestals in life.  

Beloved, are you gazing at your past laurels like Timanthes? Are you basking in the euphoria of your past achievements instead of striving to surpass them in the new year? Have you built a monument around your past successes like that young Greek artist? If you answer is "Yes", then, it is obvious you are treading a dangerous path. The chances that you may end this year without any tangible accomplishment is very high and that will be very disastrous. 

One special hymn that re-echoes the teachings of Apostle Paul in the above scripture is titled "Higher Ground". How I wish the wordings of this hymn can become every believers watchword as we  run the race of 2022. 

HIGHER GROUND By Johnson Oatman, Jr.

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining ev'ry day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

   Refrain:

           Lord, lift me up, and let me stand

           By faith, on heaven’s tableland;

           A higher plane than I have found,

           Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where these abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 

I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught a joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground. 

I want to scale the utmost height,

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,

“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.” 

Receive grace to gain new height every day of this year. May God send someone to blot out those past achievements that are capable of retarding your progress this year. Through you, God will produce greater works of grace that will draw the attention of the whole world to Christ this year in Jesus name,  Amen. 

Good day and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

http://okanlawon.webnode.com

http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

Instagram: @lawontaiwo

Twitter: @tammytaiwo