No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Have you ever thought about what motivates some people to look back into their past? Why is it that some prefer looking back to the things they left behind rather than looking forward to what the future holds? It could be that they look back because they knowwhat was left behind but do not know what the future holds. Or, it could be that they wish to avoid repeating the mistakes of their past.
There are times when it is good to reflect, but only if it serves as a positive experience. It can be rewarding and helpful in moving forward. It can also be inspirational to achieve new successes when realizing how far one has come, what has been completed, and where one may be going. When there are unpleasant memories in the past, reflection can promote a sense of satisfaction when looking to the future.
No matter what happens in life, we should never look back in a judgmental way. Neither should one hold one’s self hostage to past outcomes. Simply face the facts about unhealthy past experiences, but do not get entangled in them again.
A man after God’s own heart, David was a man who used looking back as self-motivation when he encountered a challenging task. Although he looked back, he did not look back to go back. He looked back upon a victory in his past when God gave him the strength to defeat a lion and a bear. His challenge was to defeat his opponent Goliath, and God granted him incredible success. The most rewarding thing for humanity is to choose to look forward, “Looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). It is important to stay determined and to have a mindset to proceed onward.
Looking back can have its negative impact and cause judgment to fall when least expected. Paying diligently with her life, Lot’s wife was an example of what can happen if one chooses to look back rather than looking forward. Devine judgment was passed upon her, and she suffered the vengeance of eternal damnation. Lott’s wife was deemed unworthy, and she lost the most significant victory of a lifetime because she disobeyed God’s directives and looked back. Apostle Paul admonishes everyone to “Forget the things that are left behind and reach forth unto those things which are before,” (Phil 3:13). In this scripture, he is encouraging everyone to press forward.
Prayer is Key: Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me the mindset to look ahead, only looking back to find encouragement to press forward. I pray that You make me acceptable to live in Your kingdom. Help me to stay inspired by the things that are pleasing unto You. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
