by Patricia Bellchambers
As I drove home on Friday night, I found my vision being drawn repeatedly to the car’s side mirror. I was surprised at how the reflection of what I saw looked so unlike what I had just driven through. From that slightly different perspective, the road behind looked well lit, its surface appeared even and it looked wide and clean. I knew that in reality the stretch of road I had just driven along was uneven, narrow in spots and a little dark and dingy looking.
As I continued to drive home my vision was drawn time and time again to the side mirror and each time I marvelled at the contrast that was apparent between what I saw as I looked through the windscreen of the car as opposed to then looking at that same stretch of road behind me through the side mirror.
The perspective offered by the side mirror always showed a more favourable view. The view always appeared more attractive even though in reality it was the same stretch of road simply seen from a different angle.
The Holy Spirit started to speak to me about the fact that often we look back over our lives and what we have lived through often looks more attractive than what it actually was in reality. We seem to minimise the negatives and focus more intently on the positive experiences we have had when we remember our past.
Even in every day conversation we often refer to our past as “the good old days.”
When we find ourselves in pain or turmoil or confusion it is very easy to seek that which feels familiar. In the times when we are fearful, apprehensive or even frustrated it is easy to look at what lay behind rather than face what lies ahead. The future may seem unsure or even frightening while the past appears to be familiar, comforting and reassuring. The reality is however, that to return to or focus on the past, will not bring life, it will only bring entrapment and eventually death.
To be healed of our past we need to acknowledge it but we do not stay there. We stay focused on the present and what the Holy Spirit desires of us.
We cannot afford to focus on the past but must remain vigilant to focus on and move toward the future. The decisions we make now will determine our future. Don’t allow satan to convince you to focus on what you have left behind, or what you once had. Do not be deceived by the things satan will whisper into your mind. Satan will tell you, “It was so much easier back then,” and the truth is it was. He will tell you that, “You had nothing to lose back then,” and the reality is you didn’t. Satan will tell you that, “This journey with Jesus has cost you everything,” and hopefully that’s true because the reality is we had nothing of eternal value back in the “good old days” anyway. Don’t be like the Israelites when they were being led out of Egypt and into freedom, when times got tough they began moaning and groaning and eventually pining for what they once had - which in reality was slavery and bondage.
Don’t be like Lot’s wife who ignored the instruction to leave and not look back - you may not die as she did, however, you may focus on the past just long enough to miss the awesome opportunity God has placed in front of you.
The truth in my life story is, that pre-salvation I had no future, no hope, no idea of who I was and I had allowed the world to rob me of any dreams I ever had. I had bought into almost every lie of the enemy and I welcomed death much more than life. I had no life, I did not know how to live only how to exist.
Through my relationship with Jesus, because of Him, I now have a future and hope, and He has redeemed my past, my dreams and my destiny. I now have life!!!!
There is no comparison between my past and my present. The “good old days” simply didn’t exist except in some unrealistic inaccurate perception.
We must continue to do what God requires of us. That does not involve looking back …
...it requires looking forward and being willing to pursue the things God places in front of us.
Be blessed!