Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God
Crick – a colloquial term for a cramp
Gen 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 26 But his (Lot ’s) wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. KJV
There seems to be a plague of sore necks among many believers today. Ever wake up in the morning with a stiff neck? One of the symptoms of a “crick” that it hurts to turn your head in one particular direction! It is almost as if, we are not supposed to look in that direction. We may have full range of motion except for that one way!
The Bible is very clear about the fact that believers are not supposed to look back and long for the place they used to be before coming to Christ. It indicates dissatisfaction with the present location and provision. We can read about Israel being freed from long years of slavery and then longing for the food that they ate as captives in Egypt Egypt
Forward Looking Attitude
Heb 11:13 These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. 14 And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven. 15 If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. 16 But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them. TLB
Apostle Paul was an excellent example for us of a believer who focused on what was before him. Phil 3:13 No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us. TLB
No Eyes in the Back of the Head!
In God’s creation many animals were made with head or eyes which swivel or are capable of seeing nearly 360 degrees. We laugh at videos of owls turning their head with large eyes in nearly complete circle. But, God did not give man that physical ability. Too many believers are looking back to where they came from. Some have not broken off their ties to the past lives of sin and secretly long to return to their old friends and previous dark practices and life style. Of course, there are some believers who are living in the past and always talking about the Good old Days. Nothing today seems to satisfy them. Young believers hearing them are being told that nothing today compares to what they experienced in the past.
God of the Present
God never changes! (James 1:17) Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. TLB God is with us now. We cannot change the past. We often don’t know about the future. But we can love and serve God today! We can be thankful for what we have now. We can share His Love and be a blessing to those around us now! How about it, let’s quit looking back. Those who do often have a pain in their neck! They also can become a pain the neck to others around them.
God bless you as you thank God for what you have today and look forward to a bright future in Jesus Christ!
Dan Corbett
“Reaching One Among Millons”
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