On January 1, 1929, University of California was facing off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Rose Bowl in California. Midway through the second quarter, California with the ball hands off to Stumpy Thompson, who fumbles the ball entrusted into his care only to be recovered by his teammate, center Roy Reigels. Finally after managing to break from the chaotic mad scramble for the loose ball, Reigels marched 69 yards before being tackled on the 1 yard line, in the wrong direction. Instead of facing 1 yard to the goal, California faced 99 yards. California decided to punt to take away the risk of a safety only to see the punt block and Georgia Tech scored a safety. The exchange between coach and player was anything but dismal and negative.
“Coach, I can't do it. I've ruined you, I've ruined myself, I've ruined the University of California. I couldn't face that crowd to save my life."
"Roy, get up and go back out there — the game is only half over."
Though Georgia Tech went on to win the game, Roy Reigels played a stellar second half which including excellent blocking to allow his quarterback to throw for a touchdown and also blocked a punt.
The game is only half over. What an outlook. What a game plan. Paul shares a game plan as well. 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. (Philippians 3:13-14) Our past should stay that way, the past. If want to move forward in life, then we need to quit looking back. Paul’s past was certainly not a shining light for the Christian community. He had persecuted the New Testament Church and even oversaw the death of Christians, namely the preacher Stephen in Acts 7:58. But yet, he reveals to us his cancellation. “Forgetting those things that are behind” is not a bad idea to consider in life. If we tend to focus on the mistakes and errors of our pass, then we are heading to an emotional disappointment and our hope and our spirit of joy will be dampened by the spirit of guilt and sadness. Genuine repentance ensures that our sins and our pasts are blotted out. This past year whether good or bad, is just that, a past year. Now we look ahead. Each year and each day requires a new and fresh prayer. Do not let the mistakes of the past bog you down. We do not have to allow what happened affect the outcome of the year ahead, the day ahead, or even the life ahead. We can’t rely on the blessings of yesterday to sustain us today. We can’t rely on the blessings of yesteryear to sustain us this year. Each day and each year requires a new blessing and new prayer. There is a reason we must rise up daily in prayer and lie down at night in prayer. Each new day that dawn, needs it. We can’t allow what happened yesterday, last month, or last year determines what comes ahead. Isn’t that amazing. Each day we awake is a threshold. When you stand at the threshold you can either determine to go back where you came from or go forward.
So, if we are to forget what is ahead, what is the next step for us at the threshold? In following along Paul’s game plan we find His concentration. He is reaching for what is ahead? What is ahead? Every one of us has a different purpose in life that God has designed us for. What that is determined between you and God. Whatever lies ahead, look ahead and strive ahead with hope. Focusing on the past actually deprives us of that hope. Paul was reaching forth with hope. He believed the best was ahead of him and not behind him. The great news is the same is true of us in life. Our best is ahead and not behind us. If we do not see that, then we have deprived ourselves of hope. Without hope, then we will enter each day, month or year with a negative outlook. Paul’s them of his letter to Philippians was joy. A part of his joy was in the fact that what is ahead is much better than what was behind. Concentrate not on what is behind you, but what is ahead of you.
Now Paul had his game plan. His cancellation (forget what was behind) and his concentration (reaching for what is ahead), yet there was still one more additional aspect to Paul’s game plan. Commitment. Paul was committed to what God planned for His life. As long as we keep our focus on what God wants and desires for us, then we can concentrate on what is ahead and have the sure hope that the outlook of the future is brighter than our past. He was striving to better himself by committing himself to what God intended for him. As the new day or the new year approaches what is your game plan? Forget the past, you do not have to let it affect the outcome of what is ahead. Focus on the future with hope and reasonable confidence and expectancy. Commit yourself to God’s plan, purpose, and intentions for your life. That will help to make the days ahead a little bit brighter for you. Sounds like a plan!
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