Press On

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

On August 7, 1954, more than 35,000 spectators gathered in Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. On this day a race was run that became known as the Miracle Mile. British medical student and former Olympian Roger Bannister had been the first person to run the mile in under four minutes just three months before the Commonwealth Games. At this race, he was going to run again against seven other runners.

John Landy of Australia had the lead during the race. But on the final turn of the last lap, he looked back over his left shoulder. Bannister passed him on the right and crossed the finish line first. It was the first race where two runners finished the mile in under four minutes.

The apostle Paul knew that the way to finish a race strong was to look forward and press toward the finish line. Looking back at past mistakes slows forward progress, and it can cause a person to stumble and fall. Paul determined that the bad choices in his past wouldn’t stop him from looking forward and reaching his goal—to be with Jesus for eternity.

Does that mean that you can’t ever think about things in the past? No. But it’s easy to get caught up in what could have been or to be held back by bitterness over things that have already happened. It’s good to learn from earlier mistakes and victories but not to live in the past.

Before Paul came to know Christ, he was known for persecuting Christians. He was even on his way to persecute the Christians in Damascus when Jesus stopped him in his tracks and Paul turned to the Savior. If Paul had dwelled on the bad things he’d done before he met Jesus, that would have hindered Paul’s work of spreading the gospel. So he accepted Jesus’ forgiveness and focused on the goal in front of him.

It’s easy to think about past mistakes and problems. But don’t dwell on them. Learn from them and let them go. Like Paul, strive forward toward the finish line—being with Jesus.

Have you watched a track meet? If not, try to watch a race in person or online and see how the runners concentrate on the finish line. How can you have that same focus in your Christian life?