Old Photos

 

       It’s a pile of old photos that I’ve never fixed.  They used to be in one of those books with adhesive strips that would ultimately ruin the photo, so I took them out but never bought a book to put them back into.  They’re my past, mostly things I don’t even remember and pictures I took from other people that I should remember, but don’t.

       Some of the photos make me smile and wish I were back in the simpler times where responsibilities weren’t so extensive.  Other photos make me cry in regret for what never was but should have been and the sadness of lost love.  Although looking back for a few minutes to your life is not always a negative thing, there are at least three times when looking back was not a good thing in the Bible.

       First, there was Lot’s wife who looked (regard with pleasure, favor, and care Gen. 19:26) back on her comfortable, pleasurable life and was turned into a pillar of salt when she could have been saved from judgment.  Second, there were the children of Israel out in the desert looking back, many times, and saying they were better off in Egypt. (Ex. 14:12; 16:3; 17:3 Num. 11:18-20; 14:2)  All it really got them was judgment and death from a variety of problems.

       Jesus talked to three men in the scriptures and asked them to follow Him. (Luke 9:57-61)  They were not willing to give up their ordinary but comfortable lives to follow Him and so they gave excuses of things they need to finish first.  They were looking to their recent pasts.  Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (v.62)  Their looking back made them unfit.  In contrast, the ‘apostles’ were not recorded to make excuses, but just followed Jesus when He asked.

       Perhaps you look back and long for the move of the Spirit like in the past or those glorious days of old- or you look back remembering all the sinful and bad things you did which ‘make you unworthy’ to be one with God- or maybe you just wish for the simplicity of your old ordinary but comfortable life. No matter the reason, looking back will cause you to be unable to be who God wants you to be.  Paul said, “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php. 3:13,14

       Press forward today for the high calling.  Don’t settle for less than best.  Fresh manna is available today and everyday.  Don’t settle for stale bread of yesterday, but look to the Father for fresh Word, living Word (quick=living, Heb. 4:12) everyday.  Don’t look to the miracles and answered prayers of yesterday, but press for the miracles and answered prayers of today and tomorrow.  Our God who has done these things in the past will surely continue to show His

                     great glory through His power in our lives- when we press forward.