After enduring disappointment, tragedy or change we tend to easily fall into three buckets of how we’ll look forward (one’s direction or motion AND one’s anticipation): either we look FORWARD with regret, we look FORWARD with hope or we stay stuck.
Let’s look at the first bucket:
I am reminded of the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis (Gen19:17, 26). Lot tried to convince his son-in-laws to leave the city because it was soon to be destroyed but instead they laughed and mocked him. There was some hesitation and lingering on Lots part because they wouldn’t listen. The Angels of God instead had to lay hands on Lot, his wife and daughters, to urge them on, otherwise they would not leave the city in time. They were instructed by God not to look back at the city once they left. As they were moving forward, escaping, Lot’s wife looks back, and in her looking, she turned into a pillar of salt. Her looking forward with regret caused her to look back to the life she wanted to save; the perceived lost was greater than her anticipated future. Unfortunately, we cannot be spared from the consequences of sin and separation from God when we chose to disobey Him. (Luke 17:32,33).
Sometimes our excuses cause us to look forward with regret. We use excuses to mask our fear, insecurity, stubbornness, self-interest, rebellion or doubt. We want to follow Christ but we have competing loyalties that if left unchecked will always provide enough distraction to keep us looking forward with regret at the abundant life God has called us to. Look at the examples in Luke 9:57-62. “No procrastination, No backward looks…you can’t keep putting your priorities above God’s” Looking back leads to drawing back!
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for” (Matthew 16:24-26 MSG).
How are you looking FOWARD?