THE BEST IS YET TO COME

"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 later 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 things 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, have you built a monument around your past successes like that young Greek artist? Are you basking in the euphoria of your past achievements instead of striving to surpass them in the new year? If your 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. 

This special hymn below re-echoes the teachings of Apostle Paul in the above scripture. 

THE BEST IS YET TO COME By Jack Campbell

1. I'm happy every day as I travel through this land,

I've been mightly blessed by God I'm holding to His hand.

The journey's almost over and the battle almost won,

I have a feeling in my heart the best is yet to come.

CHORUS:

Oh, the best is yet to come when I walk through heaven's gates,

For the first time I see Jesus I can hardly wait.

He'll show me to my mansion and say this is your home,

I have a feeling in my heart the best is yet to come.

2. I'm standing now on Jordan's banks as I face the rolling tide,

The storm clouds are raging I'm happy down inside.

I see the life boat coming to take me safely home,

I have a feeling in my heart the best is yet to come.

I pray that every past achievements capable of retarding our progress this year shall be blotted out like the paintings of Timanthes. As the Lord lives, our exploits in year 2024 shall surpass that of previous years greatly in every ramifications. And when the life boat shall show up to take us home, we shall not be left behind in Jesus name, Amen. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord - Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I will like to invite you to our January 2024 Holy Ghost service with the theme: From The Mountain Top. Date: 5th Jan 2024. Venue: Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria. Time: 7pm.

Good day and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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