“… 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)
“On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!”
One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. First Corinthians 9:24-27 tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12-13, the apostle Paul said, “I press on,…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus.” (excerpt from Our Daily Bread, August, 1995, August 7).
If you had to examine your thoughts, where do most of them trend, to the past or to the future? Is a part of you stuck in the past, longing for the past, hopelessly mired by sins or mistakes of the past? To be faithful, you need to deal with the past but move on. You may ask God for forgiveness for past mistakes, but don’t let yourself be consumed by regrets and resentments. If you look to the past for too long, it may consume your every day, sucking the life out of your every joy.
When Chastity was alone for the holidays, she often reminisced. At the forefront of her thoughts was the knowledge that two days before Christmas five years previous, her fiancé Dustin walked out of her life. Whenever Chastity was in a bad mood, memories of the breakup would force their way into her mind and take over her attitude. She would eat too much, drink to forget, be irritable to coworkers and friends. When Chastity’s roommates saw her looking longingly at the Christmas tree in the apartment while eating Rocky Road Ice Cream, they knew to stay away. During those times, Chastity was lost in her sorrows and inconsolable.
John is an elder in his church. He knows exactly how Chastity feels. He didn’t break up with anyone. He lost his wife, Claire, to cancer when she was only thirty-eight. Despite having a strong faith and love for the Lord, John often stares off in space. During these moments, his children know not to ask questions. If they do, John will get upset and hide in his room. Even after four years, John cannot seem to stop the memories that play in his mind day after day. He wonders if there could have been something that would have saved Claire’s life. Did he choose the right doctors? Could an earlier date for the first MRI have saved her? Maybe she was too stressed? John feels guilty for every argument they ever had, every angry word (real or perceived) ever sent her way. Now, depression is John’s constant companion. His past with Claire consumes so many of his waking moments and recurring dreams.
Chastity and John are both Christians. They know God in Christ. If you speak with them, they will talk passionately about Jesus and about salvation. Still, both have been unable to move past their regrets and sorrows. Despite their love for Jesus, they can’t let go of their hurt and pain. They’ve grown accustomed to sadness and remorse and guilt. They even wonder down deep if their suffering isn’t caused by some long-ago sin or because they aren’t good enough. Sadly, they have it all wrong. Their suffering isn’t caused by God. God wants them to find grace and peace. Their suffering is caused by their own mired past. Why can’t they feel God’s love shining through? Why can’t they let go of their past, even for Jesus’ sake? Someday, I hope God’s light breaks through. I hope they will realize that they must choose between their self-destructive ways and God’s life-affirming grace.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul mentions one thing that he continually focused on throughout his life. Philippians 3:13-14 reveals that Paul endeavored to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead”. He did not let his past mistakes and sins and errors corrupt his work for Jesus. He “pressed on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize.. through Jesus Christ”. Despite the fact that Paul made some huge mistakes in his life, including condoning the murder of Stephen, he would not let Jesus down by focusing on that sinful past. He had work to do for Jesus. He had souls to save. He had a “calling”. I’m sure that Satan would have loved to keep Paul focused on past mistakes. However, Paul would not let it happen. He consistently looked forward to what lies ahead and to a future in Heaven.
How well do you focus your thoughts on holy things? Do you get caught up in the past? Do regrets eat at your quiet? Deal with the past, but then let it go to God. Following Paul’s wisdom in Philippians; focus your efforts not on the past you can’t do anything about but rather the future that holds so much promise. Think of Jesus more than you think of regrets, disappointments, sins, or failures. There is so much to look forward to in the Kingdom coming! There is so much more God can do with you today, if you aren’t glued to a problem past…
One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. First Corinthians 9:24-27 tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12-13, the apostle Paul said, “I press on,…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus.” (excerpt from Our Daily Bread, August, 1995, August 7).
If you had to examine your thoughts, where do most of them trend, to the past or to the future? Is a part of you stuck in the past, longing for the past, hopelessly mired by sins or mistakes of the past? To be faithful, you need to deal with the past but move on. You may ask God for forgiveness for past mistakes, but don’t let yourself be consumed by regrets and resentments. If you look to the past for too long, it may consume your every day, sucking the life out of your every joy.
When Chastity was alone for the holidays, she often reminisced. At the forefront of her thoughts was the knowledge that two days before Christmas five years previous, her fiancé Dustin walked out of her life. Whenever Chastity was in a bad mood, memories of the breakup would force their way into her mind and take over her attitude. She would eat too much, drink to forget, be irritable to coworkers and friends. When Chastity’s roommates saw her looking longingly at the Christmas tree in the apartment while eating Rocky Road Ice Cream, they knew to stay away. During those times, Chastity was lost in her sorrows and inconsolable.
John is an elder in his church. He knows exactly how Chastity feels. He didn’t break up with anyone. He lost his wife, Claire, to cancer when she was only thirty-eight. Despite having a strong faith and love for the Lord, John often stares off in space. During these moments, his children know not to ask questions. If they do, John will get upset and hide in his room. Even after four years, John cannot seem to stop the memories that play in his mind day after day. He wonders if there could have been something that would have saved Claire’s life. Did he choose the right doctors? Could an earlier date for the first MRI have saved her? Maybe she was too stressed? John feels guilty for every argument they ever had, every angry word (real or perceived) ever sent her way. Now, depression is John’s constant companion. His past with Claire consumes so many of his waking moments and recurring dreams.
Chastity and John are both Christians. They know God in Christ. If you speak with them, they will talk passionately about Jesus and about salvation. Still, both have been unable to move past their regrets and sorrows. Despite their love for Jesus, they can’t let go of their hurt and pain. They’ve grown accustomed to sadness and remorse and guilt. They even wonder down deep if their suffering isn’t caused by some long-ago sin or because they aren’t good enough. Sadly, they have it all wrong. Their suffering isn’t caused by God. God wants them to find grace and peace. Their suffering is caused by their own mired past. Why can’t they feel God’s love shining through? Why can’t they let go of their past, even for Jesus’ sake? Someday, I hope God’s light breaks through. I hope they will realize that they must choose between their self-destructive ways and God’s life-affirming grace.
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul mentions one thing that he continually focused on throughout his life. Philippians 3:13-14 reveals that Paul endeavored to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead”. He did not let his past mistakes and sins and errors corrupt his work for Jesus. He “pressed on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize.. through Jesus Christ”. Despite the fact that Paul made some huge mistakes in his life, including condoning the murder of Stephen, he would not let Jesus down by focusing on that sinful past. He had work to do for Jesus. He had souls to save. He had a “calling”. I’m sure that Satan would have loved to keep Paul focused on past mistakes. However, Paul would not let it happen. He consistently looked forward to what lies ahead and to a future in Heaven.
How well do you focus your thoughts on holy things? Do you get caught up in the past? Do regrets eat at your quiet? Deal with the past, but then let it go to God. Following Paul’s wisdom in Philippians; focus your efforts not on the past you can’t do anything about but rather the future that holds so much promise. Think of Jesus more than you think of regrets, disappointments, sins, or failures. There is so much to look forward to in the Kingdom coming! There is so much more God can do with you today, if you aren’t glued to a problem past…