Simultaneously freeing and challenging. Piper summarizes the correct view of this quite winsomely (see below the verses) when summarizing Paul’s amazing statement in Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ”

Piper’s summary of what Paul means when he speaks of “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”:

“I do not burden myself with the paralyzing effects of past failures nor do I burden myself with the killer weight of pride at my past successes. Anything that would hinder my loving, godly, holy race for the good of others and the glory of God, I forget it. I lay it aside. I don’t let it produce sinful effects in my life.”

And he ends with this: “So remember: Christ has made you His own. That changes everything about how you run your race.”