Don’t Look Back

Scripture: Genesis 19:15-17 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

When Christ came into your life, He came to save it. He came to rescue you. Christ knew that your current lifestyle was bad for you and that if you stayed in it, it would eventually destroy you. Christ met you where you were just like the angels did for Lot. Christ grabbed you by the hand and took you outside of the city walls. At that moment, you were set free and thus a new person. Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new (2Corinthians 5:17). This new freedom comes with a new walk, a new language, a new testimony. However, it takes some longer than others to learn this new way of life. Despite the growth rate, you are instantly set free. With this freedom you are directed not to look back. Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made you free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). In other words, do not look back, do not go back and do not put back on the broken chains of sin. Looking back shows that you miss the life that you’ve been rescued from. Looking back shows a desire for the old you, your old life, your old ways. Unfortunately, we often look back to our old lifestyle and look back fondly on those times sometimes even despising the new person we have become. Many are guilty of looking back and reminiscing; guilty of carrying the broken, heavy, burdensome chains of past sin with them like a badge of honor even though Christ has set them free. But, if you must look back, look back with new eyes thanking God that you are no longer the person you were back then; thanking God that you are indeed a new person; thanking God for broken chains.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for saving us. Forgive us, Lord, when we look back; when we reminisce on things of old that didn’t bring You glory. Thank You, Lord, for grabbing our hand and directing us when we hesitated to leave bondage. Thank You, for not allowing us to stay in Sodom and get destroyed. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace and mercy that pulled us kicking and screaming out of a life of conscious sin. But more than anything, thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins that we might live. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

(by Patricia Towns)