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STOP LOOKING BACK

by Tesh Njokanma  
9/17/2014 / Christian Living

Have you ever heard about John Michael Landy an Australian former Olympic track athlete and Olympic recorder holder? I recently read an article about him. In 1954, during the British Empire and Common Wealth Games held at Vancouver, British Columbia, he ran a mile race but lost to Roger Bannister another fast runner because on the final turn of the last lap, as John Landy looked back over his left shoulder, Bannister passed him on his right. This led to the creation of a massive bronze sculpture of the two men which captured the sports error of John Landy looking back while running. As a matter of fact, the bronze sculpture stood for many years at the entrance of the Empire Stadium. It was because of this sculpture that John Landy jokingly made this statement that struck my attention while reading the article about him, "While Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one who ever turned into bronze for looking back".

It is not only in athletics that it is an error for one to look back. Jesus in Luke 9:62 pointed out that looking back is not an attitude fit for those who want to follow and serve Christ; it is an error in Christian service. "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God". If there was anything the Apostle Paul worked hard at, it was avoiding the danger of looking and living in the past. He stated in Philippians 3:13-14 that "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus". Paul was simply saying that since I haven't yet arrived, since I haven't yet gotten to the level God is taking me to, I do myself a world of good by not dwelling on past mistakes, accomplishments or achievements. Paul understood that what had happened in the past, no matter how good it is, can't compare to what God wants to do today. Paul also understood that if a person is completely yielded and sold out to God, whatever happened in the person's past, no matter how dirty or ugly, it can't prevent God from manifesting His glory in the person's life.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, God declares that He is doing a new thing. But to see and experience this new thing, you have to forget the former things, you have to stop dwelling on the past. How does looking or dwelling on the past prevent one from experiencing a new beginning? For one, it gives you a false sense of identity. If for example, a person was a former CEO of a big organization but today that organization has folded up, by continually seeing yourself as the CEO of that organization, talking nonstop about your accomplishments as the CEO of the company which no longer exits, you aren't facing the reality of things that today you are out of a job, your company has packed up, and you are in desperate need of an upliftment. By holding on to that past status or title, you can hinder yourself from receiving the new thing God wants to do in your life. Stop clinging to past accomplishments, desire new and fresh accomplishments and testimonies.

Looking back can also fill your heart with painful memories that hinder you from receiving the blessings God wants to give you today. If you are a single person and your last three relationships ended up with your heart being broken, it doesn't necessarily follow that the next time you enter into a relationship, the same thing is going to happen all over again. Many single people today aren't embracing the new thing God wants to do in their life because they are still dwelling on past hurts.

Looking back also blocks your vision. If you keep looking at what is behind, you can't see what is in front of you. When I was much younger, I used to enjoy coming to Lekki Phase 1 to see the houses being built. Then, most of the houses were still undergoing construction. But I remember how my siblings and I would get to a particular house and we are like WOW! This is lovely. This is it! But when you move further, you get to see something much better and you are speechless! Many years after, more architectural master pieces have come up. There's always something better ahead.

Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was a very lovely place to live. The Bible describes it as a well watered place, like the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10). I'm sure one ofthe reasons Lot's wife looked back was because she was busy thinking could there be any place as lovely as Sodom and Gomorrah, this place is too beautiful to leave and the next thing she knew, she had become a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Don't settle for where you are. The best is yet to come. Don't ever think you have seen it all or seen the very best. You haven't. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (I Corinthians 2:9).

If there's anything we need to do for ourselves, it is to break free from the past. Don't let your past keep you from entering into a season of new beginnings. Break free from the sins and shame of the past, break free from past wounds and pains, break free from past glories and get ready to receive a fresh and new thing.

www.teshnwritings.com

Tesh Njokanma is a lawyer by training whose heart is in writing. She is a prolific writer with 15 years experience as a Magazine Editor. She is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God with a prayer and teaching ministry. Tesh is married with children. She is based in Lagos, Nigeria

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