Welcome to Tuesday Morning—designed to encourage Christians everywhere to celebrate the final week of 2010 and the onset of 2011.

 

The latest news: Governmental agencies in the United States are considering legislation intended to restrict drivers from “texting” on their cell phones while driving. The rise in automobile accidents caused by drivers distracted by texting is alarming. Many states have already enacted laws prohibiting drivers from using cell phones while driving. Being distracted while driving has become a national concern to highway safety officials. Six years ago law enforcement agencies were stunned by the rise in automobile accidents attributed to drivers whose attention was diverted by watching DVD movies while driving. Amazing.   

 

Spiritually speaking, “looking back” at the bad things that have occurred in our lives (or only in 2010) can lead to depression and a long list of emotional and physical problems. Looking straight ahead is a much better option. It is a biblical imperative for believers.

 

Today’s Tuesday Morning is entitled, “Don’t Look Back.” It is attached below. In this final week of 2010, let me urge you to re-direct your thinking from things past to things present and things ahead in 2011. God has a plan for you. Discover it, and then follow it. The plan has God’s fingerprints all over it! Bring it on, 2011!

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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Don’t Look Back!

Tom Barnard

 

xperts agree that one of the worst things drivers can do when driving is to lose sight of the road ahead. There is no “automatic pilot” on automobiles. About 6 years ago, investigators were stunned to discover the cause of a fatal automobile accident was due to the driver being distracted by a DVD movie he was watching—while driving! Taking your eyes off the road ahead—even for a split second—can be dangerous. The rear-view mirror is a helpful device to keep the driver aware of traffic conditions to the side and rear. But concentrating on what is behind and not paying attention to what is ahead can also lead to major problems.

 

Similarly, focusing our lives on past events to the exclusion of present obligations can be problematic. Here is a poem that was written by Lea Helms Davis, and it addresses the issue of looking back.

 

I’ll not look back, for that is useless effort,

I cannot live one moment of yesterday again.

If I have wasted time and talents given,

If I have caused someone I love deep pain,

I cannot change the words or acts by grieving,

But I can make today a shining light.

 

From yesterday’s page with its mistakes I’ll turn away

And find before me a clean one on which to write.

I’ll pray for strength to make today’s page spotless,

That tomorrow I’ll have no regret.

And may God grant that in all my tomorrows

My talents will be used for good, not one misspent.

 

Some things about the past can bring comfort and security. Achievements, excellent academic grades, business successes, triumphs, honors, awards—memories of these bring warmth to our lives. But memories of failures, bad investments, and relationships turned sour can be devastating. There is something very final about the past. There are no surprises there. Someone has observed that the past is like a cancelled check—something to file away and not re-use. There is little value left in the past—except for lessons learned and joys shared. The more we reflect on the past and dwell on it—to the exclusion of the present the future—the more we realize that past memories do not get any better simply by rehashing them.

 

The Apostle Paul had to come to grips with his past. In the years following his conversion he had to deal with the guilt he carried from his early efforts to persecute Christians. Perhaps this was what he had in mind when he wrote (Philippians 3:13, 14):

 

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the

 goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

 

Paul refused to dwell on the dark side of his past. As a Christian, his current priorities demanded his full, undivided attention. He wanted his todays to become his even better tomorrows.

 

Do Paul’s words resonate well with you? Have you been plundered by the past? Does the Enemy remind you constantly about your decisions that have not turned out the way you planned? Do your “battle scars” feel like open wounds? Do you long for a place of beginning again, clean and unspotted? Well, my friend, there is a place of beginning again. I love the passage in John 8:10-11. Jesus looked at that very guilty woman and asked, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” (They had really condemned her, but Jesus took care of them in a way only he could). “No, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go and sin no more.” And in the next verse, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 

Stop looking back. Look ahead. There is light there—light to brighten your pathway. Believe it. Jesus said it.