June 24th, 2010 goes down in the annals of Tennis as one of the days that is historic; a day in which an epic battle ensued between American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on the tennis courts of Wimbledon. This event was rightfully referred to, by Mahut, as the greatest match ever in the greatest place to play tennis in the greatest tournament (Wimbledon 2010). The match was as 5 setter with each contestant having 2 sets and battling for their 3rd set. The match continued for 11 hours and 5 minutes, spanning 3 days, establishing several unprecedented records by both players, until Isner finally won with a 70-68 game count in the 5th set. After the match was over, to honor the players and the umpire, a memento was presented and the players interviewed. When Mahut was questioned on his mental fortitude as he served to stay in the match and the pressure each time he came off a time break, Mahut replied “I was not thinking about this, I was just thinking about wining the game I was playing, the point I was playing, again and again. It was very long but I think we both enjoyed it.” Mahut did not think about the past, irrespective of whether he had won or lost the point. He kept thinking about what was to be and this helped him fight as no one has ever fought before. He did not dwell on the past but sought to think solely of the future.
We ought to be likewise in our Christian walk with God as well and as Paul expressed, we need to press on (run and fight) with our focus for future glory (Philippians 3:14). We need to stop dwelling on our past and press on thinking about the future. God does not dwell on our past and graciously He remembers our repented sins no more (Hebrews 6:17). The devil on the other hand not only remembers our repented sins always but he seeks persistently to remind us of our past. In fact, the devil strategy is to whisper temptation one moment and then bring down the hammer of guilt in the next.
Point(s) to ponder:
Where is your/mine focused on?
What is to be or what was!
We should not be dwellers in the past (what was). We need to be future thinkers (what is to be), looking forward and unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Hebrews 6:16-18 (KJV)
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Philippians 3:14 (KJV)
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
