Successful baseball players learn it, successful salespeople know it, and those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ must have it on the tip of their minds – the power of not dwelling on the past. We must learn to practice what the apostle Paul described:
Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 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.
Learn to say “next” when setbacks, disappointments, and rejections occur. Too many times we stumble by letting the past dictate the future. Especially the near future when we focus on the last setback.
A young baseball player was told after he struck out for the third time in one game that he needed to learn the power of next. He was instructed that when he swung and missed, to step out of the batter’s box and say “next.” If he struck out or made an error in the field, he was instructed to just say “next” and then focus on the moment. This next concept, the coach reminded him, if he practiced it, he could be ready for the next situation, instead of allowing the setback to dictate how he would respond, which would normally be the negative.
Consider how the Bible teaches us this concept in pointing to what is before, rather than dwelling on what is past, including things that have just happened.
Proverbs 24:16 (ESV) — 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
That does not say the righteous person never falls, rather whenever they do fall or stumble from circumstances, sin, or failure in any other sense, they don’t stay there. It’s amazing how our inward tendency is to dwell on failures or setbacks, replay the situation over in our minds, and beat ourselves up as a result.
Wait a minute! Satan is called the “accuser of the brothers.”
Revelation 12:10 (ESV) — 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Nobody can ever lay a charge against God’s elect.
Romans 8:33–34 (ESV) — 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
What are we doing when we dwell on the past or focus on our failures? We are losing ground in moving forward in the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ as we are trusting in ourselves which means we have our eyes off Him, who loved us and gave Himself for us. In other words, we are listening to our enemy instead of the Captain of our salvation. This is how the prophet Micah put it:
Micah 7:8 (ESV) — 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
Next!
Whenever you experience a setback, get up and say “next.” Whenever you encounter trouble and feel down and out, maybe like quitting, dust yourself off and say next, and get back in the race.
Isn’t that what the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the hope of the day of the great resurrection is to do for us?
1 Corinthians 15:52–58 (ESV) — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
It’s not just a matter of moving on, rather it’s a fresh focus on the final victory, and since that is true so is the truth concerning our being more than conquerors now as we face the ups and downs of life.
One other point that as God is working in us, so we are working out what He works in and sometimes that means setbacks or failures need a good “next” as we move forward.
Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
