Don’t Look Back!

Luke 9:61–62 NKJV

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:62 NKJV

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

I. Introduction

It is the end of another year. This is a time that many people spend reflecting on the year gone by.

It is good to reflect on times and events, but not too much

Sometimes we can go from reflecting on the year to dwelling on the past.

So, while reflecting on past events for the purpose of learning, or planning for the future can be good. dwelling on the past can hinder us from moving forward.

The Bible teaches us not to spend much time looking back

“Don’t look back, something may be gaining on you”

2. The Bible also calls for not looking back

Looking back Hinders Forward Progress

Looking back Hinders Forward Progress

Looking back may be making you depressed

So many people I counsel suffer depression, anxiety and other issues becasue they spend too much of their thoughts looking back, living in times gone by.

1. Looking back may be making you depressed

Looking back may be bringing you defeat

Looking back may be bringing you defeat

2. Looking back may be bringing you defeat

There are so many ways that dwelling in the past can bring defeat in your present

People who think unnecessarily on unpleasant things of the past bring depression and anxiety into their present- this brings chemicals into our body that are not healthy, and hinders those that are.

The bible teaches is in that we should think on those things that are good.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

This is not just poetry

it is written for your edification, and necessary for your growth and spiritual health

thinking on unpleasant things can cause not only mental and emotional damage, but also leads to physical sickness and disease

Hinders the healing and recovery process also

hinders our faith and hope.

When this is allowed to continue for a period of time, it can become permanent

changes happen int he hippocampus region of the brain - as a result of long term depression and such

these changes affect the bodies ability to produce the healthy hormones that prevent depression and lead to long term isssues

Looking back can become a permanent state - remember Lot’s wife

As we finish 2019 and look forward to 2020, I want here are a few areas we need to stop looking back on

Don’t look back at Sins that have been Forgiven

guarantees forgiveness of all sins

1 John 1:7–9 NKJV

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory

but sometimes there are things that we have done that are hard to believe we are forgiven of.

either becasue they were so bad, or becasue they resulted in such loss.

maybe we shipwrecked ourselves and lost a job, a friend, a family, or even a life.

But we have this promise: if we confess that sin, He is faithful and just to cleanse us.

we can be sure that our sins are forgiven therefore, and should not waste any more time looking back on them.

2. God really does put our sins away ()

God really does put our sins away ()

Psalm 103:1–5 NKJV

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2–3 NKJV

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Perhaps you believe this for others, but not for yourself - many Christians fall into this group

3. Perhaps you believe this for others, but not for yourself

But God has put away all sin, even your most serious ones - consider Paul, and so many others

4. But God has put away all sin, even your most serious ones

Don’t look back at Defeats that get you Down

All people have some defeats in their past

2. Only those who never attempt anything are free from failing

Only those who never attempt anything are free from failing

But God lifts up those who fall

3. But God lifts up those who fall

Psalm 37:23–24 NKJV

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

psa

Don’t allow failing to make you feel you are a failure

There are many people who have reached a plateau in life and failed, and keep looking back at that one place

like a person who owned a business that failed, and then keeps looking back - everything is measured by that stick, and cannot move forward.

Don’t Look Back at Sorrow that keeps you from Joy

Everyone suffers loss in this life at some point.

Don’t allow a loss to make you feel

There is a time to grieve over loss, and to be sad

But some people have suffered loss that changed their lives, and they keep looking back at that point of loss

In that case all future joy is canceled out before it takes root by looking back

Like a friend of mine who lost his father:

he had been successful, had a family, faith in God, a business and career.

But he could not look beyond that loss, and so lost everything.

Don’t look back at the Past and see it Better than it was

()

()

Israel looking back to Egypt ()

every time they came to a hard place, they said “it was better for us in Egypt”

2. Distance lends enchantment

Distance lends enchantment

3. Nostalgia is never quite honest

Nostalgia is never quite honest

4. As one preacher said: “The present is never as good as it used to be”

As one preacher said: “The present is never as good as it used to be”

A great future beats a great past every time

A great future beats a great past every time

Don’t look back at old Conflicts that make you Bitter

If you rehearse old conflicts the hurt returns

We can recall a conflict from years ago, and instantly feel the same emotions again.

Sometimes this happens even after some of the people are dead

Rehashing these opens old wounds

Rehashing these opens old wounds

Even those where forgiveness has taken place will become dangerous again if you keep going over them

3. Even those where forgiveness has taken place will become dangerous again if you keep going over them

Have you ever seen someone do that? or been part of it? Where an issue is long past, but they bring it up again, and then suddenly it is fresh again.

Forget the past and get on with profitable living ()

4. Forget the past and get on with profitable living ()

Don’t look back at old Victories that may cause you to think you have Arrived

Not only do we need to stop looking back at old problems, sorrows, losses, and conflicts, but we also may need to stop living in past successes.

So many people are always talking about what they did years ago, or sometime int he past, but won’t do anything today.

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Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Here is the primary message of

I served the Lord with all my heart … once

2. I served the Lord with all my heart … once

I was a soul winner … once

I was a soul winner … once

I was sold out to Christ … once

I was sold out to Christ … once

What about today?

What about today?

Conclusion

Look up! Looking unto Jesus ()

Look on the Fields and in Caring for others you will Forget the Past

Look Ahead! The best is yet to come!