I wonder how anybody can ever go forward looking back. I hate to admit but I
sometimes find myself seriously looking back when I am set and really want to
go forward. Sometimes, it starts with self-evaluation; I just want to go over
the past so I can learn from my past mistakes but it then goes out of control
and I find myself dwelling on past errors and remaining there until I start to
be sorrowful about things that can't be changed. Of course, I totally forget
the original intention and get stuck on my "musings" instead of
meditating on the word of God then I find myself thinking on why and how I made
the bad decisions. Also, in the process, awakening the pain of the past so that
I become sad.
Psalm 119: 105 "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
For some others, there is so much pain or dissatisfaction with their present life that they feel the need to think on the good old days. Unfortunately, these are days gone that can never return. These people believe their best times are all in the past so that they prefer to remain there in their minds savoring the joy of that "great past" wasting valuable time. Dreaming and wishing that the beautiful past could be re-enacted would not bring anyone into that beautiful life they desire which appears to be eluding them. The past is gone and gone for good but you still have the present and future. Interestingly there is a much better future before you but only if you move on and on the path predestined for you by God.
Philippians 3: 13-14 "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
The truth is whether one is dwelling on the good or bad past, you are in the past and consequently, not going forward. It is in truth a waste of time because neither dwelling on the past mistakes or past glories will move one forward. If we must go forward in life, we must learn to live in the now whilst looking to the future and totally trusting God. The past must remain in our past. We should learn from it and move on. The Israelites had various struggles with going forward, but one principal one was consistently longing for their past life in Egypt. Of course that generation eventually did not enjoy the great life that God had ordained for them. There is an entire life before us and we must enjoy it. Instead of dwelling on the pain and glory of the past, let us enjoy today whilst getting a vision for tomorrow with our eyes on God.
Luke 9: 62 "But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Unfortunately, it has become common practice for some believers to talk lustfully about their past life as unbelievers. They speak about that life as though those are and will always be their best days. Such believers like to reminiscence over their lives as unbelievers and sound like as though salvation is this sad and unhappy thing that happened to them because it stripped them of all the fun, joy and laughter they had and desired in life. They sound like Christ who came to give us abundant joy stole their joy instead. It truly ought not not to be so. No one who has moved into light should long for and treasure darkness. There is no way anyone can make heaven longing for life in hell. No wonder the Israelites who always looked back to Egypt eventually did not make the promised land. The Promise of God is that we enter that Promised Land, we must walk purposely toward entering that Land.
Hebrews 11: 25-16 "If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Philippians 3: 7 - 8 "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ"
Psalm 119: 105 "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
For some others, there is so much pain or dissatisfaction with their present life that they feel the need to think on the good old days. Unfortunately, these are days gone that can never return. These people believe their best times are all in the past so that they prefer to remain there in their minds savoring the joy of that "great past" wasting valuable time. Dreaming and wishing that the beautiful past could be re-enacted would not bring anyone into that beautiful life they desire which appears to be eluding them. The past is gone and gone for good but you still have the present and future. Interestingly there is a much better future before you but only if you move on and on the path predestined for you by God.
Philippians 3: 13-14 "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
The truth is whether one is dwelling on the good or bad past, you are in the past and consequently, not going forward. It is in truth a waste of time because neither dwelling on the past mistakes or past glories will move one forward. If we must go forward in life, we must learn to live in the now whilst looking to the future and totally trusting God. The past must remain in our past. We should learn from it and move on. The Israelites had various struggles with going forward, but one principal one was consistently longing for their past life in Egypt. Of course that generation eventually did not enjoy the great life that God had ordained for them. There is an entire life before us and we must enjoy it. Instead of dwelling on the pain and glory of the past, let us enjoy today whilst getting a vision for tomorrow with our eyes on God.
Luke 9: 62 "But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Unfortunately, it has become common practice for some believers to talk lustfully about their past life as unbelievers. They speak about that life as though those are and will always be their best days. Such believers like to reminiscence over their lives as unbelievers and sound like as though salvation is this sad and unhappy thing that happened to them because it stripped them of all the fun, joy and laughter they had and desired in life. They sound like Christ who came to give us abundant joy stole their joy instead. It truly ought not not to be so. No one who has moved into light should long for and treasure darkness. There is no way anyone can make heaven longing for life in hell. No wonder the Israelites who always looked back to Egypt eventually did not make the promised land. The Promise of God is that we enter that Promised Land, we must walk purposely toward entering that Land.
Hebrews 11: 25-16 "If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Philippians 3: 7 - 8 "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ"
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