Don’t Look Back; Move On

The Lord says that in this world we will have trouble.  We live in a fallen world. He gave us free will, and some use their free will to the disadvantage of others, and then there is Satan who “Roams the earth seeking whom he may devour.”

We, ourselves, also experience things we have done that we regret. 

The Lord wants us to move on, go forward, and not look back.

(Philippians 3:14)

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

He tells us not to look back at the past, the life we lived before salvation.  If we truly experience a changed heart that comes from a sincere, heartfelt surrender to Jesus Christ, we should not want that old lifestyle!

(Ezekiel 36:26)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

We begged Jesus to help us, to get us out of the hellhole we made for ourselves, so why would we want to go back?

In the Book of Genesis, when the sexual immorality and sin of Sodom and Gomorrah had become so great, the Lord was going to destroy those cities.  But Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lived there with his family.  Abraham pleaded on his behalf.  The angels went to Lot to get them out of the city. They told them to leave and not look back.

(Genesis 19:17)

“Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

But Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

(Genesis 19:26)

“But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Salt is a preservative, and when she disobeyed, treasuring what she left behind, it destroyed her.  If you look back at your old lifestyle, you may just die spiritually there.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The sin, and the sinful ways and lifestyle you left behind, must stay in the past and out of our minds and hearts. With a renewed heart, we should not want that lifestyle any longer.  Our treasure should be the Lord.

(II Corinthians 5:17)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Our heart, our focus, our treasure, and our worship should be on the Lord.

(Colossians 3:1-5)

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.”

We should take our cue from the temptations of the devil as Jesus did when He was led into the wilderness to be tempted in order that He could understand us. 

(Luke 4:8)

“And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Don’t look back, and when someone hurts you, forgive, let go, and move on!  You do NOT forgive for their benefit, you do it for yours.  Otherwise, a root of bitterness and resentment grows in your heart and may turn into rage.  Lighten your heart and forgive.  God will take care of them.  He is a God of justice.

(Psalm 89:14)

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.”

Move on, it is for your benefit, and you can let go with the help of the Holy Spirit.

He told the disciples when he sent them out to witness, if a town does not receive you, leave and shake the dust off your feet.  Meaning, do not take the negative emotions with you into your present and your future!  They will take over and destroy your heart.

Do not give Satan that leverage!

(Ephesians 4:26-27)

“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

You can let go of the ones who hurt you, you can move on from that event that brought you heartache, you can forgive and move forward to the goal Jesus has for you.  You can do it with the help and strength of the Holy Spirit.

(Philippians 4:13)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”