Print“Henceforth”. That’s where this line of thought began.
If you will take time to reflect on these verses I think you will find that “Henceforth” is a word of completion. It is a word that embraces the past, present and future. What about the future? So, we turn back to Paul as he finishes with the past with its sense of completion and now looks to what is ahead.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
From this moment forward I am focused on what lies ahead. If I don’t complete the past, I can’t look to the future. I will be trapped in the present, unable to be released from the unfinished business of yesteryear and, therefore, I can’t embrace all that Paul urged me (and all believers) to do when he said:
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
