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  Religion
Looking back By: Pastor Philip Howle web posted March 11, 2010 RELIGION – You might not think it now to look at me, but I once was a pretty good high school track runner. I ran the two mile, mile, and the half mile and looked great in a pair of track shorts (ask my wife!). My rapidly moving pale legs actually earned me the nickname “White Lightening.” I did have one problem in that my large head slowed me down as it increased wind resistance and drag. But I will move on. This week I came across a story about running that got me thinking. Don’t worry it was not about trying to find my old track shorts. It was about how on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. The closest I ever got to this was 4:58. But it went on to add that 2 months later, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. So then on August 7, 1954, the two met together for a race to determine who the greatest miler was. The story goes as they moved into the last lap, Landy was in the lead. Most observes thought that he would win. But as he neared the finish, Landy was curious and wondered, “Where is Bannister?” But 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!” You see one of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul writes “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s goal for the Christian life was, forget the past, and towards to fulfilling his call in Christ. So, since the Christian life can be compared to a foot race, I was wondering what implication does looking back have on our ability to run the race set before us? In one respect, looking back at who we once were before God saved us can be cause to praise God. Paul did this in Philippians 3:4-8. Robert D. Jones writes “When we let our past memories springboard us to higher views of God's grace, it energizes our praise and solidifies our Christian confidence.” This is good. Robert D. Jones further adds to the value of looking back at past sins as he writes “What is the value of being conscious of your past sins? For one thing, it will drive you to seek reconciliation and restitution with those you have mistreated. (Furthermore), perhaps certain sins hound you simply because they are unresolved… (Additionally), being conscious of your sins will also sensitize you to new temptations in the same areas. Like a child once burned by a stove, you will be more careful next time, quicker to watch and pray about this area of weakness. Remembering your past evil will deter you from repeating it. "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" (Pro. 26:11).” So there can be some good from looking back. But, more often I find when people look back at their past sins and failures it tends to cause them to miss what they can and should be doing in the present. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes “To dwell on the past simply causes failure in the present. While you are sitting down and bemoaning the past and regretting all the things you have not done or should not have done, you are crippling yourself and preventing yourself from working in the present.” (Spiritual Depression, p. 83) When Satan tries to throw your past sins in your face, just remember that your Redeemer is far bigger than your past! Also, when Jesus died on the cross he died for all your sins, past, present, and future. So what should we do instead of looking back? We should heed the words of Heb 12:1-2 “Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, (2) keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.“ Please keep praying for the people of Haiti. Also keep Doug & Tonya Baker, Lisa Turner, Sam Stevens Jr., and myself in your prayers as we head this Saturday morning to the island. Thank you all and God Bless, Pastor Phillip © Copyright 2010
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