Don't look back!

One thing the Pandemic and some very wise pastors taught me, is that we cannot look back to what was our past. Like anyone, we can get nostalgic, maybe even a bit wistful about how good things were and we can be tempted to measure what we did by what is happening now, but is that a fair comparison? Seasons change without any warning and reflecting back is not always a healthy thing to do. Several biblical examples reinforced this point. Lot's wife, who loved her decadence in Sodom more than family and Israel who made an unfair comparison to Solomon's glorious building to the new temple. In the New Testament, Jesus reiterated this in Luke 9:62 when inviting people to follow him said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Ultimately it is our heart condition that matters to God because by it is how people see us. We should stay close in our relationship to God and care for people and make them our primary goal, even in service. Abiding allows God to speak to us and enables us to learn lessons we may well have missed. Do we look forward, do we plan? Of course we do, and again how our attitude is, will set the tone, because it begs the question, who is in control? Is it us or is it God? This should be our daily health check, just as we keep an eye on our physical wellbeing, the whole self is incredibly important. It reminds me of the scripture Ephesians 4:23-24 talking about ensuring our very being is in right standing. May it help us as we negotiate our busy tasks and give us pause to slow down and take stock, so that we can a blessing to everyone we meet.