Don’t Look Back

“Zach, don’t turn around. Look straight ahead and pay attention to where you are going,” I explained to my little boy as he was riding his bike down the street.

Zach had just recently taken up riding his bike down our country road. Donned with helmet, knee pads, elbow protection, and gloves with fingertips cut out, he was the most cautious bike rider I had ever come across. Last summer, he had actually managed to learn to ride his bike around the house without ever falling down so as to prevent getting the dreaded boo-boo.

Just the day before, he had been turning around looking at me to see if I was coming when his handlebars started wobbling side to side. He lost control and the bike rode right out from under him. Still, with all the protective gear, he got out of the mishap with only a tire mark on his leg.

“But Mommy, I think those dogs are coming after us. They are making a really scary sound,” Zach explained in a panicked tone all the while trying to keep his handlebars straight and regaining control.

“Zach, you just enjoy your bike ride. I will keep you safe from those dogs. Stop turning around. Recall what happens when you look behind while riding your bike. You can easily lose control and have an accident like you did yesterday.”

Our neighbors have about six dogs that are not fenced. When they come together in a pack, they can be somewhat intimidating. He was still hearing them and having trouble staying in the middle of the road.

Little did Zach know that I was willing to get off my bike and take each one to protect him. I knew what those dogs were capable of from my own bike rides, walks, and trips to the mailbox.

Flashing through my mind came a verse from Philippians, “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.”

As a new Christian, I had a lot of bad memories from my past that hounded me. I knew God had forgiven me of my sins, but I kept reminding myself of them over and over again. I couldn’t keep my eyes on the road for looking back at those dogs that were chasing after me. They were always hot on my heels and sounded just as intimidating as the ones that were now after my little Zach.

We learn in Romans that when we receive our new nature as born again Christians, we put to death the misdeeds of our body. Abba, our Daddy God, protects us from the enemies of yesterday that are chasing after us. They all have to go through Abba to get to us, just like those dogs had to go through me to get to Zach.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, our prize. When our mind is not stayed on Him, we become panicked as Zach found himself. We lose clarity of thought and can veer off path and even wreck out.

Let us meditate on this empowering exhortation from Joshua 7:1-9. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Abba Father, help us as we travel on this road to Heaven. We keep our mind stayed on you so that we may walk in peace, strength, and courage as we press on toward the goal to which you have called us. We need not go in fear or dread of the past, but can actually attain peace and enjoy the ride. Thank you for your grace which makes it all possible. Glory to You O God!