Looking Back: It's a Pain in the Neck!

I don’t know about you, but I find myself constantly looking back.  I look back at past decisions, past problems or difficulties, past situations that are all “said & done.”  They are in the past, and most, if not all of these things, are solved.  Yet I find myself still going there and saying, “if only this or that” or “I should have or I shouldn’t have” or “I wish this or that.”  And let me tell you, it can be so tiring! Constantly looking in the past leaves your neck hurting!  Am I the only one guilty?

Just the other day I was thinking back to something that happened nearly 11 years ago, replaying everything in my mind.  I replayed the guilt, the pain, the sorrow, the “what ifs,” the “I wish” scenarios over & over in my mind.  And you know what, it didn’t change a thing! Looking back at events in our lives isn’t always a bad thing, but when we dwell on any part of it that may seem negative and wish we could change it, then it can become debilitating.  I believe that’s why Paul tells us in Philippians to forget what lies in the past and strain forward to what lies ahead (my paraphrase of 3:13).  He then goes on to say in verse 14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  If we are continually looking back, then we can’t look forward to press on toward the goal.  What is the goal? A life in Christ, devoted to Christ, for Christ – in all things, Christ!

If our goal is following Christ, then we must look forward!  In my Bible (ESV), the section of Luke 9:57-62 is titled, “The Cost of Following Jesus.” There’s a conversation going on about following Jesus.  In the last verse, 62, “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”  This verse sticks out to me.  I can look at the field across from my house and see the rows and rows of corn.  In thinking about those nice straight rows, it occurred to me that when one is plowing, if he looks back, his rows will not be straight.  Hmmm, thought provoking!  I think this is Jesus’ way of teaching us to not focus on the past, but to look ahead to the future.  I’m not a farmer, nor do I know anything about farming or gardening.  But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plot of land that has been plowed for planting that has uneven or crooked rows, so I suppose there is a reason.  Maybe it is easier to plant the seeds if the soil is plowed in straight rows? If we are always looking backwards, we will have a more difficult time going forward with Christ and focusing on Him.

Hopefully you are not like me, and you can easily let go of the past and move on.  Hopefully you are not like me and constantly thinking about the “what ifs” of the past.  But if you are, let’s remember to look ahead and stop looking back.  Let’s get that “pain” out of our necks by looking forward to Christ and focusing on him!