Don't Look Back

Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." [Luke 9:61-62]

When did you first put your hand to the plow? I did so back in October of 1983. That was thirty years ago next month. The corner of the field God has called me to plow has not been easy. In fact, it has been downright difficult at times. Looking back has been tempting. Even more tempting has been the thought of turning back all together when the times got tough. Over the past thirty years there were many times when the temptation to walk away from ministry appeared enticing.

I am talking about times when nobody wanted me to be their youth minister or pastor. I cried out to God to use me and when He didn't I held onto the plow more loosely tempted to let go. He sustained me. There have been times when those I served turned against me. Their words were cruel and cut deeply. I looked back over my shoulder in those days longing for what appeared to be better days in my past. There have also been some times when God used me and moved mightily. Like in the youth group at Spring Creek Baptist Church, like during youth camps for FBC Dalhart, like during the four years at FBC Paradise, and during the amazing revival at FBC Seminole that lasted over three weeks.

All of that is in the past. The plow for me now is in Wise County unless God chooses to move me again one day. I have to grip the handles firmly at Faith Community Church and Sunday after Sunday keep plowing the fields and sowing His word. Some days that will mean days in the office studying. On other days that will mean mowing. Other days that will mean shepherding the flock. There will be days when gripping the handles of the plow will mean writing and there will be days when it means packing my suitcase to travel to go preach a revival or camp somewhere else.

It is easy to look back. Paul exhorted us to forget what lies behind and to press forward to what lies ahead. [Phil 3:13] Your road in following Jesus may not have been an easy one. You may be tempted to look behind you. Look back to a past before you were a follower of Jesus. Sin may look more tempting. The former way of life may appear easier and more appealing but that is all deception from the enemy. You may look back to a geographical location and to a group of people you hold dear. You may look back to a time when life had less challenges and more trappings of success than you are experiencing now. You may be tempted to look back to the past but you cannot plow straight in the fields when you are looking behind you.

This day God has given you a plow to grip. It might be as a husband and father or a wife and a mother. Your plow could be a vocation or a miserable ministry. You may even be tired and bored with your plow because you have been gripping it for so long working in the same old fields. Hear this clearly. Only God has the right and authority to release your hands from the plow He has given you! Only God can give you permission to let go!

Your job is to press forward right where you are leaning into that plow and trusting God for a harvest in your field. Some of you plow in rich fertile fields where the dirt is dark with nutrients ready to receive seed and yield a harvest of abundance. Others of you labor by the sweat of your brow in fields filled with rocks, thorns, hard soil, and yielding little fruit. Plow the field God has given you. Don't look back. Keep training your children. Keep loving your spouse. Keep serving in your ministry. Keep loving your Lord.

There are many who do more than look back. They eventually turn lose of the plow and pursue a life of fleeting pleasures that never fulfill. Your God ordained destiny is in front of you. Even if God ever did restore you to plow in fields from the past He would lead you to those fields in the future and not in the past. We must keep plowing ahead. One foot, one yard, and one row at a time. Your focus must be on what is in front of you and not what is behind you.

It may feel like a grind. You may be weary in your bones. You may be bored and want to look for greener pastures in marriage, work, and where you worship. Plow ahead. Keep your hand to the plow and do not look back.

Those who look back and release their grip are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those are not my words. Those are Jesus words. Like I said earlier only Jesus has the right and the authority to release you from your present plow. It is time to re-grip and set your mind to the work He has called you to. Keep plowing where He planted you.