Looking Back

Looking Back

Are you attached?

Popular Story- Lot’s wife

Context- The land was evil and not one righteous man could be found! Sin was rampant!

Genesis 19:17,26

17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

“Looked Back” in Hebrew is more than just looking; it means to “ “to regard, to consider, to pay attention to.”

Logically, what was wrong with her looking back? She was leaving all that she knew!

She was Disobeying a direct command from God

She was showing her attachment to the sin there

If she wasn’t attached and a direct order was given about such a horrible place she would have left with no question in mind. No need to regard what was left

The place was so full of sin. God pushed the restart button

What does looking back cause?

Consequences of Looking Back

Distraction- Looking back you can’t look forward

Looking back causes distraction which leads to destruction.- Truck Accident

You Stray From The Straight and Narrow

Loss of Salvation

Ultimate Calamity

2. Can you leave it all?

Luke 9:57-62-

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead![a] Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.

The disciples left immediately to follow

Jesus said it was worth it

They are attached to the past. Are you attached to where you are now that you can’t give it up if God asks you to? If so, something is out of alignment

Will you leave all to follow? Your house, children, spouse, friends, career?

My job example- Loosing all but Samuel was easy.

You can’t have 2 masters. Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Don’t be luke warm- Revelation 3 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You can’t be attached to the past or present and to God. One must be your master

What holds you back from following?

Those that chose to follow Jesus left at once and immediately.

If God is asking you to serve Him in an area or sacrifice something will you do it?

As long as the past captures your attention you can loose your future

You wont get far looking backwards

This includes a good or bad past

Whoever desires to save their lives will loose it

3. What is the Promise?

Persevering through Faith Brings Salvation

Hebrews 10:36-3936 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”[f] 38 And, “But my righteous[g] one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”[h] 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Justification- By Jesus

Sanctification- Working it out by fear and trembling

Salvation is only the beginning- Don’t stay a newborn forever.Sinner’s prayer is not a one time payment insurance policy.

Many who think they are saved arent!

Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’