“Hugot” (The Godly Way)

They say “past is past,“ but I know most us finds “hugot” to be quite funny and somehow relatable because it tackles about our pasts (mostly heartaches). But on a serious note, leaving the past behind is actually biblical, and allow me to share what was impressed in my heart after reading some of Paul’s writings. Please don’t think I’m being “KJ” about all these. Trust me, I will still crack some hugot jokes after this, and you will know later – in the last part… (just saying lol)

Anyway! So what does the scripture say about the saying “past is past?” Here’s what I learned from Paul’s writing.

In Philippians 3, he ends a section there by saying “One thing I do: 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” (verses 13–14). Does “forgetting” here means not to remember the past at all? I believe in this passage, forgetting means “no longer caring for, neglecting & refusing to focus on” and not really wiping out old memories. Paul tells us to count the past as nothing which also means that we cut the strings that tie us to that bygone moment, refuse to allow past successes to inflate our pride, refuse to allow past failures to deflate our self-worth, leave every memory behind, and rather adopt our new identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So does that also mean that we should not bring up the past anymore? Definitely not! In fact, there are many times God instructs us to REMEMBER. In Deuteronomy 9:7, Moses tells the Israelites to “remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord.” Obviously, we are, at the same time, encouraged to remember all God has done for us (Psalm 77:11; 103:2), remember others who are suffering for Christ’s sake (Hebrews 13:3; Colossians 4:18), and what we were before Jesus saved us (Ephesians 2:11–12). But the remembering should be to the GLORY of GOD. Our history should be HIS STORY, for our past is our own share of victory in Christ Jesus – our GOD-glorifying testimony.

If God chooses not to remember our past sins (Hebrews 8:12), we can choose to set them aside as well and embrace the future He promises to those who love Him (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:10). Let not our past, good or bad, shape us. Again, our new identity is in Christ. He said in His word that “the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He already knew us, & He’s already got everything figured out right even before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5).

Instead of dwelling in the past, have that peace that our God is an awesome God who loves us so much, and that His plans are better than ours. If you still have “hugots” about previous experiences, let it be a hugot that reminds you how God saved you from the wrong one, and how He took you out & saved you from something worse (or even worst).

So to all my “Hugot” friends out there, don’t forget to share your hugot story for God’s glory!