Don't Look Back

***This blog was originally posted on my Myspace blog 8/13/08***

On Sunday morning as my pastor was preaching from Luke 18, I looked over and saw Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's wife." I made myself a note to go back to that verse because something told me that there was something there for me.

We all know the story of Lot's wife. We know how God spared Lot and his family from the destruction in Sodom and Gomorrah. We know how they were instructed not to look back and yet, she did. The last several years have been such a struggle for me. I've been tempted to look back a whole lot. And you know what? I have several times. If this is an area you struggle in, take it from me. Don't look back. There's nothing good that can come from it. I don't think you'll turn into salt or anything, but I'm sure the results still won't be of any help to you. We read stories in the Bible of people who looked back such as Lot's wife and the children of Israel and we judge them. We look at their previous circumstances and think "Why would they want to go back to that?" The truth is: We're no different. The only difference is that we know their whole story and we don't know all the details of the end of ours. We're still serving the same God though and He's promised us good. He won't lead us into anything that isn't for our good. Why can't we just trust and not look back. Why do we hold on to those things that weigh us down? Holding on to old things holds you back. Let go of the past! Keep pressing on!

Hardships will come. Tests will happen. I think of Job. I can honestly say I, nor anyone I know, has ever suffered like Job. In the story of Job, I would probably be playing the part of his wife. (You know...just curse God and die) Job reminded her that we cannot have all good and expect to never endure hardships. How easy would it have been for Job to just wallow in all he had been through and to bring it up every chance he could get? And yet he didn't. I read once that consistent faith is the way to defeat Satan. Job didn't look back...he pressed on.

A verse that has been so much of a blessing and yet so convicting to me is Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." I think Job had that verse conquered before it was even penned.

Don't look back to your past of slavery. When you're tired of wandering in the wilderness and weary of the uncertainty of where God is leading, be assured that He will lead to a place better than you can imagine. It's up to us to fully surrender and say we're not dwelling in the slavery of our past but instead we will choose to dwell in His presence. Psalm 16:11 says "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

I choose to dwell in His presence.