Looking Back

by Debi Baker


This past Sunday, the title of my sermon was "Quit Looking in the Rear-view Mirror."  I can't count how many times I've caught myself looking back at the past...and I'm either hating myself for my failures or wondering what 'might have been.'  What about you?  Every time I catch myself doing this I have to repent.  Why?  Because what's in the past is in the past!  Nothing can change it.  It's over and done with.  The only way it can be of benefit is to learn from it.  And honestly, we don't have to relive it to learn from it.

Luke 9:62 NLT

Those times when I wonder 'what might have been' can really bring me down.  See, I am a full believer in Romans 8:28 NLT!  "28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."   I believe that this verse is saying that God will bring good out of every situation we find ourselves in. So, when I make a not-so-perfect decision God will turn that decision for good...AFTER I repent and give it to Him.  Let me tell you, I've made many a decision that I came to regret.  I've wondered time and time again why I chose this path or that.  I've learned that once I repent and give these 'oopses' to God, I need to leave them with Him.  See, once we repent, God takes all those things and throws them into the sea of forgetfulness (the depths of the ocean)!  Micah 7:19 NLT says, "19 Once again you will have compassion on us.  You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!"  HE DOESN'T REMEMBER THEM ANYMORE!!!  Did you get that?!  And if God doesn't remember them why should we!  Yes, remember the lesson we learned, but forget the sin and move forward.  God has forgiven us and forgotten it!!  Stop reminding Him!!

Have you ever tried to drive a car in reverse for more than driving out of your driveway?  I have and let me tell you, it's not easy.  It seems like it would be, but the reality of using the rear-view mirror as a guide to 'back' your way very far is that it's nearly impossible. It's the same with our life...if we spend all our time looking back, we'll never be ready to move forward in Christ!

Lot's wife spent time looking back and longing for the days of old and what did it get her?  She turned into a pillar of salt!  It's time for us to stop looking in the rear-view mirror of our lives and look forward to where God wants us to be!  In Luke 9:62 NLT Jesus tells us that, "62 ...Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."  We can't do the work set before us if we're busy looking back!!!