Don't Look Back!

[Bill]

This Week's Verse

Luke 9:62 -- "But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Bill's Weekly Thought

Satchel Page was on to something when he said:

"Don't look back, something may be gaining on you."

We see this admonition of the Lord in Luke 9 says the same thing. The Apostle Paul tells us that we should press on to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Looking back hinders forward progress. Just try walking while looking over your shoulder once. Having done so, you may run into a wall, a door, or someone else in the meantime. Driving a car while looking behind you causes you to weave all over the place. Looking back in your spiritual life can leave you feeling depressed or defeated, or bring you defeat.

Five quick points about not looking back:

Don't look back at sins that you've been forgiven of!

1 John 1:7-9 guarantees for us that our sins have been forgiven. ALL of them. God really does put our sin away. As we confess our sin, He hears us and forgives us. Obviously we need to walk in that forgiveness and look for strength to avoid sin in the future, but we need to understand that it's gone! In God's eyes, once we confess it and seek forgiveness, we no longer have it! Perhaps this is something you believe for other people, but not for yourself. We all need to believe this today, that Jesus Christ came and died for you and for me and put all of our sins far away from us, no matter how small or how large, past, present and future. He paid for it all! Hallelujah!

Don't look back at defeats that get you down.

Every single one of us has a defeat in our past somewhere. The great inventors all have them. It was said once, by Thomas Edison I believe and I'm paraphrasing here, that he classified his defeats as opportunities to know what not to do. It is only those who sit in a nice room and never attempt anything that do not fail. But God lifts us up when we fail. The psalmist said in Psalm 37 that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and though man (plug your name in here) may fall, he will NOT be utterly cast down! The LORD will uphold him, and the LORD WILL uphold you and me! In order for us to walk in a victorious life, we can't allow one present failure or a failure from our past make us feel like we are total failures.

Don't look back at the past and see it better than it was.

Numbers 11:18 makes reference to when the children of Israel were looking back to Egypt. They thought it was better there. But they were in BONDAGE there. They were working as slave labor, treading mud for bricks, and so forth. Ecclesiastes 7:10 makes the statement to us "Do not say 'Why were the former days better than these?' For you do not inquire wisely concerning this." The feeling of nostalgia is never really honest with us. The distance factor from our past memories, even our bad experiences, can make them enchanting when we're faced with present pressing problems. Vance Havner once said that "The present is never as good as it used to be." We long for the good old days, whether in our lives, the lives of our church, or in some other way. These "good old days" are easy to discuss, but we forget they had problems too. Sometimes we remember only the good of the past. But looking ahead to a great future will beat a great past every time! Sometimes we need to be glad that yesterday ended last night, and that today's a new day. Don't dwell in yesterdays...instead look ahead to the future.

Don't look back at old conflicts that make you bitter.

Rehashing old conflicts opens old wounds. Rehearsing old battles does nothing but return the feelings of hurt and anger to us. If we extend forgiveness, and go back to those old battles one more time, we run into a danger zone the more we go over them. But Peter gives us an admonition in 1 Peter 2:1-2 about laying aside all malice, all envy, all deceit, and evil speaking. Such things are of conflict, and if we lay aside these things, we will be able to move on with profitable living an forget the past conflicts.

Finally, and maybe one of the more dangerous ones...

Don't look back at old victories that may cause you to think you have arrived.

Philippians 3:13-14...I go back to the beginning of the newsletter where I mentioned this as well. The apostle Paul says that he does not count himself as one who has arrived, but is continually pressing on, reaching forward, and forgetting those things that are behind. Here is the primary message behind this scripture! Don't rest on your laurels! Don't stop just because you've accomplished something! Continue to press on in what God has called you to do. Sure, it's nice to be recognized and receive praise for your accomplishments, but don't rest there! I think that sometimes when we rest, we begin to get lax. We served the Lord with all our heart...at one time. We were soul winners...at one time. We were sold out about Christ...once. What about today? Don't rest on past accomplishments! Continue to press on in what God has called you to do!

The author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and that we need to be looking unto Him in order to run the race that is set before us. We also need to look ahead to the fields, for opportunities to serve, to share, to spread the Gospel. Let's keep looking ahead...the best is yet to come!

[Adstar]

Great post Bill

It is a great trap and a waste of time looking back and lamenting our former failures. We must use them to learn but once we have learned we need to move on.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[JohnS]

[Voice Of God]

Good Word.......Thanks for sharing it.

What's behind ya, blinds ya!