Focusing on the Future - Lesson 1 - Introduction

Someone asked Jack Nicklaus, the world-famous golfer, if he could still hit a golf ball as hard as he did when he first turned professional. Nicklaus replied, "I still hit the ball as hard. It just doesn't go as far as it used to."

Even though our desires and ambitions remain at a high level,
accomplishment seems to be limited by our abilities.
It is so easy to become discouraged,
to look back at past accomplishments and complain.


Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”


The Lord is not really as interested in the results we achieve as He is in the effort we make.
We need to have the same spirit of putting the past behind us
and pressing on to take advantage of whatever opportunities
the Lord sets before us…

We can still "press on" in whatever way the Lord may challenge us—
not in our own strength,
but in that which God provides.
As Paul says later in that same epistle,
"I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me." (4:13).


Paul also says…

II Corinthians 4:16-18, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”



Unfortunately, there are many who have received this forgiveness,
but they are still plagued by the past.


For most of us, the past holds many good memories.
We remember the good times:
times when we were happy and enjoying life;
times when we were with someone special.

We remember the special events: birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries.
Good memories are a wonderful thing.
It’s great to be able to tune them in and play them back.
It brings a smile to our face.
We can certainly thank God for the good memories.


The past can also give us perspective.
The past can teach us many things about living in the present.
The past is like the rear view mirror on our car.
As we move forward we regularly glance at it
to keep us aware of what is behind us.
The past makes us more knowledgeable and wiser.
And in that regard, the past is good.


Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

How can we balance ‘looking back’?





But the past also has a dark side.
The past can be a prison.
It’s possible for the past to put us in bondage.


Along with the good memories, there are the memories of times of failure.
Sometimes our memory can serve to haunt us.
Our failures can cause us to see ourselves as failures,
or as unable to break the patterns of failure in our lives.


We stereotype ourselves, and in that way put ourselves in bondage.
Many people live today plagued by their past.
In the most extreme cases people sit in mental hospitals
constantly reliving the tragic events of yesterday.
They are trapped by the things that have been,
and can’t seem to see beyond them.


Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”




So how do we deal with the past?

Some people relive the past.
They recount the events of the past in great detail
in their minds over and over again.

All of the negative emotions which they felt then, they feel again.
And the beat themselves up for the events that are forever gone.


Some people surrender to the past.
They decide that they will never rise above the past
and resign themselves to be what the past has made them.
After all, the lot has been cast, and they are a product of their past.

Others defy the past and refuse to be dominated by it.
They recognize that while the past is an unchangeable part of their history,
they can do something about themselves
and how they deal with the memories of the past.

Hebrews 12:1-3, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”


This is the key to how we deal with the past.

There are basically three things you must do to effectively conquer your past.

The first is that we must recognize the past for what it is, the past.
It is over, done, gone, finished, ended, passed.
You can’t change one thing that happened back then,
whether back then was years ago or yesterday.

The second thing that you must do is
recognize the enemy’s strategy in reminding you of the past.
His strategy is to discourage you and defeat you.

The third thing you must recognize
is what you can do about the past.
While you can’t change the past,
you can change the way you respond to the memories of the past.


I Corinthians 9:24-27, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”




II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”





Life goes by very fast. The past is over and cannot be changed. But the present is with us and the future is before us, and God is in us. Forget what is behind; forget the plans and dreams that can no longer be realized; forget the missed opportunities and the mistakes. God has plans for us. Reach up for them; press on for His goals; look ahead and see Christ; look ahead and see life--real life, eternal life.



Psalm 84:11-12, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.”

next chapter

back to index