Last week, I spoke at my church on the theme “We’ve Come This Far by Faith”. We were celebrating the 59th anniversary of our church’s inception. Everything we did during that service was in recognition of our 59 years of labor. As I was reflecting on what I wanted to say to the congregation, I thought about how careful I wanted to be in looking back on the yesterdays of our church. Although I haven’t been at the church for 59 years, I agree that it is because of my faith and the faith of those that came before me that we continue to press on despite the difficulties we have endured. Currently, there are less than 40 people who attend our church each Sunday. At one time we had at least 100 people in attendance in Sunday School. Our children’s ministry, which is pretty much non-existent now, at one time was a thriving auxiliary of the church. Many of our problems can be attributed to the fact that all those children I taught in children’s church 20 years ago, are all grown up with children of their own, and have either moved to a more modern non-denominational church or just flat out left the church. It’s so easy to get discouraged, so I wanted to make sure that as we were looking at our past, we didn’t begin to long for it. Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Paul reminds us to not look back at past relationships, memories, failures, temptations, or anything that might distract from a single-minded focus on “the upward call of God in Christ.” I’m not saying that looking back is a bad thing but if you’re like me, the past is always a little greater in my mind than it really was. If you let us tell it, lollipops grew on trees and the clouds rained down Skittles candies.
As I’m growing in my thinking, I realize that looking back at something can be dangerous if not done the right way. I think of it like this: as a driver what would happen if you spent your driving time always looking in the rearview mirror? You’d soon run into someone, wouldn’t you? When we drive we occasionally glance behind us, but we keep looking forward. God has His perfect plan for us in our futures no matter how short or long that future may be. So we must be careful when we look back. I have to sum it up like this. I’m a big western fan and when I’m home my TV stays on MEtv. There’s a commercial for the Rifleman that comes on periodically and the dad, Lucas McCain tells his son, Mark, not to look back to which Mark replies “I wasn’t looking back, just remembering back”. So let’s always be women of God who press toward the mark God has for us with glances to the past but always looking to the future.