Don't Look Back

"Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" ~Luke 9:62

I believe it is key to know your own weaknesses in order to be aware of where Satan might try and exploit you. Satan's goal is to deceive us into questioning and doubting God's goodness. He is happiest when he can exploit us and drive us into a state of despair and helplessness that clouds our view of God. Rather than allowing this to happen, take the time to prepare yourself for the spiritual warfare that swirls around day and night, being aware of your vulnerabilities.

A weakness that I have, and probably share with countless others around the world, is the habit of looking to the past. It can seem simple and painless, but it essentially entrenches you in a rut that is hard to extract yourself from. By looking to the past, you get caught up in how things used to be, whether good or bad. By dwelling on the past, it's impossible to focus on the present or look towards future eternity in heaven. People can become convinced that either their happiness is behind them or that happiness could never be on the horizon, depending on past circumstances. Many wish to "go back to the way things were" without realizing that there is a reason and purpose to moving forward. Transitions in life, though hard to handle at times, are essential for growth. We can't go through life dreading change or else we will miss out on the beauty of new experiences or new relationships with people. Frequent glances over your shoulder won't help bring back the past and it'll cause you to miss out on the present and future. The past can serve as a learning experience, but one that we must all move forward from. We must resist the temptation to look behind us in order to keep moving in the right direction. Don't be like Lot's wife, who couldn't resist the temptation to glance backward, and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).
If that's not enough of a motivator for you to stop looking behind you, think of it this way. Jesus is ahead of you to lead the way through life towards the end goal of heaven. If you have your back turned to Him, you'll miss the mark and may not end up where you intended to. But by focusing on Christ, the path to heaven shouldn't be hard to miss. Trust God to map out your future. He knows what's important to you and all of your favorite memories. Allow Him to guide you into the future and let the past take care of itself.