Looking Back

How often do we take the time to consider how wonderfully made we are?  There is nothing more important to the heart of the Father than humanity—God’s most prized creation; so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross for the sins of mankind.  (John 3:16)

As a result of God’s love for Adam and Eve, He walked and communed with them in the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden.  God considered it good that He made man in His image and likeness.

 

(Psalm 139:14), “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

(Psalm 139:17-18), “How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God!”  vs.18 “If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”

When I think about the power of the mind and the incredible abilities of creativity that God enables me to do, it stands to reason why the devil continually bombards my thought process through the eye and ear gate with things that are anti-Christ in nature.

 

At every turn, Satan attempts to redirect a Christian’s thinking from Godly, wholesome things to ungodly recalls of past events that happened when they were a sinner and away from God, thus, trying to derail them spiritually.

We have the ability to look back at things that happened years ago and visualize them as though they occurred yesterday.  They have such clarity of visual imagery that one need only stop what they are presently doing and just reflect; which brings me to the purpose of this writing.

Memories are hard to forget, if not impossible, and the adversary of our soul knows this.  The devil opposes fundamental Christianity and uses memories of past sins in an attempt to woo Christians his way and drain them of disciplined thinking, while trying to stifle spiritual growth. 

 

The only One who can forget the past is God.  At the moment He forgives a person of their sins, He throws the memory of past sins into the sea of forgetfulness.  I can imagine a sign being posted:  “NO FISHING!” 

 

There are good-quality memories that can encourage us at times, but the bad ones should be left in the past and not revisited; the skeletons in the closet, as it were.  God doesn’t want us to rehash old sins, because He forgave them.  Christians must forgive themselves and quit fishing in the sea of forgetfulness that only gives forth dead and smelly sins as the catch of the day. 

 

At the moment of new beginnings when Jesus Christ comes into a person’s heart is the most glorious memory to reflect on.  This life changing phenomenon is remembered do to the refreshing experience it holds each time we think back on it.  My conversion took place in January of 1969; a date I will never forget.

 

Sins related to the old nature, before coming to Christ, are still in the brain's memory bank, but born again Christians that want a deeper, more intimate relationship with God choose not to dwell on them.  Their walk with God is strong and full of victories. 

 

When carnal Christians allow their brain to work overtime replaying past sins of desire and shame, it reminds me of the story found in (Genesis 19:1-29) when Lot’s wife looked back toward Sodom and was turned to a pillar of salt after having been warned not to do so by an angel.  I believe that her disobedience reflected the inner desires and cravings of her heart for the sinful things in Sodom, which God destroyed with fire, because of the evil wickedness that filled the city.

Satan tempts Christians to dwell on past flings, wild parties, seedy places they frequented, and the “should-a / would-a / could-a” syndrome that often sets in.  These unrelenting memories, if allowed to consume our thinking, remind me of the mistake that Lot’s wife made when looking back.  It cost her, her life.
 

That which a person allows their mind to feed upon can directly influence their spiritual growth and thought patterns that ultimately affect whether or not they walk victoriously in the present.  We must guard our mind with the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  “The Whole Armor of God” is found in (Ephesians 6:10-18).

In (1 Samuel 17) is the story about a shepherd named David before he became King of Israel.  As a shepherd boy in his early teens, David was sent to the battle line by his father to bring back word of David’s siblings.  He found himself in a situation that King Saul and the whole army of Israel were terrified of.

 

While there, he heard someone shouting; mocking and challenging the Israelites to come out and fight.  He had been doing this for 40 days.  This show of disrespect angered David greatly; he responded, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?”  Goliath was his name; a champion warrior that stood 9 feet 7 inches tall.  An ordinary, Jewish man at that time was 5 feet 3 inches tall. 

 

The more Goliath mocked the Israelites the more David contemplated his next move.  Thinking back, David remembered the bear and lion that he killed when they attacked the sheep that he was caring for.  He used his sling and stones to get the task done each time. 

These memories served in helping him garner the courage and confidence needed to not only face the giant on the battlefield, but they gave him the determination to defeat and slay Goliath.  David believed that God would deliver this giant and the Philistine army into the hands of the Israelites.

David proclaimed, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine!”

 

There was a hole in the giant’s armor that failed to protect his forehead.  David slung the stone as hard as he could at the giants head and hit the hole.  Goliath fell prostrate before David and the Philistine army.  David then took the sword of Goliath; pierced him and cut off his head.  After seeing their hero fall, the Philistine army fled in fear with the Israelites in hot pursuit; defeating them to the very last man.

 

Perhaps you have a larger than life giant standing in your path that you are frightened to face head-on.  Allow your mind to look back at victory moments when God showed His strength and power that helped you succeed in the past.

 

Yes, it is good to keep our eyes on Jesus and the road ahead, but looking back is necessary at times.  When doing so, we must guard our thoughts and not allow them to run wild and think on the wrong things that can defeat us spiritually.

 

I’m sure you know the potential hazards of black ice or lose gravel on the road.  One moment you are looking ahead and in an instant you are looking behind at where you have already been, because you are now going down the road in the same direction; only backwards.

Backsliding is like this.  It is important to be aware of the dangers that lie ahead that Satan has placed in our path to cause us to slip and backslide.  Not only is it crucial to stay vigilant concerning these dangers, we must put away and renounce the memories of past sinful involvements that God has forgiven.  Satan wants us to think we are missing out on the ‘good-ole-days’ by showing us our past every chance he gets.

 

As a final point of interest, the most dreaded type of tailspin a pilot fears is the “flat spin” in which the aircraft whirls to the ground like a maple seedpod.  If a Christian is not careful when they are looking back, they may go into a tailspin that is almost impossible to pull out of, thus, crashing and burning spiritually.

It is wise to keep eyes focused on the instrument panel, Jesus Christ; never allowing ourselves to stall, but keep the momentum thrusting forward for Jesus, while keeping ones nose in the Bible.  Body and soul are then kept in proper 'trim' with God's horizon in the Eastern sky.

Our flight home to heaven depends on disciplined thinking.  The Holy Spirit helps Christians achieve and maintain level headedness when looking back.

Written by,
Papa Boyd