Many of
us look back thinking yesterday was better than tomorrow. Hope by definition is
looking forward to something that pulls into the future. The type of
looking back that a lot of people engage in is more than just reflection. It is
the type of looking back that creates regret causing the future to be paralyzed
on past events of…why, and if I only…the should of; could of; would of thought
that makes the fresh satisfying water of hope run down the drain, robing the
gift of life from you.
As the
two angels saved Lot his wife and his two daughters from God’s wrath on the
evil of Sodom and Gomorrah the angels said to Lot: “flee and don’t look back!”
But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. In Luke chapter 9 there
three separate accounts of three different men who were told the requirements
of the Kingdom of God in this life…One man came to Jesus and said “I will
follow you” Jesus said “foxes have hole and the birds of the air have nests but
the son of man has no place to bury his head.” The next man called by Jesus
said: “let me first go bury my father”, Jesus told him “let the dead bury their
own dead, but you go proclaim the Kingdom of God.” In other words you belong to
the future not the past. The third man said “I will follow you but let me say
good bye to my family first.” Jesus says “No one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom.” His current personal
concerns seemed more important than his eternal concerns. No one can do any
business effectively, if he is more concerned or more involved with
other things. Those involved with the things of God, have to be sold out
and resolved to move forward and not look back or they will be dived in their
affections and devotion, we can’t continue resourcing our life before Christ.
Only the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Jesus
sets the bar high, too high for divided loyalties. The promise of abundant life
is only attained by renouncing our life before we met him and complete allegiance
to him and his purposes. We have to die to ourselves and pick up our cross
daily to obtain all he has promised. The question we all have to ask...Is it
worth it. It was when we needed salvation. Will we be like Lot's wife who looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
The
desire to return to our past will crystallize our hearts making them hard to
the things of God. The seed that fell among the thorns was choked out with the
desire of things other than God and his purposes.
The purpose of
Your Christian life is worth so much more than anything this world has to
offer, so much greater than anything that has its talons in you, drawing you
back to the life you left.
Colossians
1:26-27 says: “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations,
but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among
the Gentiles the glorious riches of the mystery, which is Christ in you, the
hope of Glory.”
God made the
choice to bring life and ease of suffering of others through you! You have
purpose and that purpose is great! Everything you have been through is not
meant to hamstring you but to make your life a story that will bring freedom to
other people and bring them to life.
Don’t check
out, don’t stop…press in and find the abundance of getting involved with God’s
plan that he formed from the time Adam and Eve sinned. You are vital to the
entire church. So much so that Christ came from heaven to die for you and make
you into a precious child in God’s family.
It’s
never too late because God’s gifts and calling are without repentance, in other
words he doesn’t refuse you and keeps his promises.
No comments:
Post a Comment