Backward

I used to have a riding lawnmower that would not go backward. It would only go forward. It was difficult to use, but I figured it out and made it work until I could get it fixed. I can use reverse in my truck fairly well, I’ve only backed into a tree that was in my “blind spot” of the mirrors. Going forward is a good bit easier than going backward. I love the bigness of the windshield verses the smallness of the rear-view mirrors. I think this is sort of a parable about my life. I can’t change one thing about my past. I’ve made mistakes there. I do have some regrets, but I can’t change what happened or what I have done in the past. It would be best if I take what I learned and move forward. It kills me to see people who allow themselves to be defined by their past success or failures. Today is built upon yesterday and my past, but today is not dependent upon my past.

Paul is reaching out to the Galatians as they have started going backward from their faith. He is urging them to remember and reflect on their past but pursue a future with the Lord. Check this out…

⁴ But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. ⁵ God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. ⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

⁹ So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? (Galatians 4:4-7,9 NLT)

I am so thankful to be free from the grip of sin. I remember what it’s like to feel like a slave to sin. I remember what it was like to be lost. I remember how patient the Lord was with me when I was trying to figure out surrender. I want to keep my feet moving forward. I don’t want my faith to ever go in reverse. I want to keep proactively pursuing the heart of God. If I get too busy looking in my rear-view mirror at my past, I’m liable to hit a tree in front of me that was in plain view if I were looking forward. Once I’ve tasted the food from the table of the Lord, I just don’t want to go back to my old life of sin and destruction. I want to steer clear of my past as I move forward.

One of my favorite songs: No Longer Slaves by Jonathan & Melissa Helser

Pressing On!

Dwayne