Do Not Look Back

In any relationship, the honeymoon phase passes, and we become comfortable. As Christians, we may become confident in our relationship with the Lord and feel like we could never lose that feeling of love. Depending on your actions, it is possible to lose it through the action of backsliding.

What Is Backsliding?

The easiest way for me to explain backsliding is this: Imagine walking up a mountain. There were countless hours of training to get to the top. After finally getting to the top of the mountain after months of walking and exploring different routes, you feel comfortable in your position at the top of the mountain.  The training that you took part in to be able to make that climb is slowing getting forgotten. You add in traits that you had before your training because “it could not hurt” and because “you are comfortably at the top of the mountain so taking a step or two down the mountain is not bad”. By the time you realize what has happened, you are halfway down the mountain again.

The mountain is our relationship with the Lord. We learn how to drop weights off ourselves to make it up the mountain. Those weights were our sins, our past life, and actions that we were doing that was not bringing us closer to God. Working with God to go on the path of life and becoming who He meant for us to be and being at the top of the mountain with Him is the goal. Once at the top of the mountain though, comfort settles in. Comfort brings nostalgia and confidence. “Backsliding could never happen to me.” “I only want to add this one thing from my past.”

What Happens If I Look Back?

Who you were before obviously was not working. The past you needed saving, that is why you are now closer to Jesus than you were before. What you are wanting to add back in does not matter. The thing that matters is that God had you set that down and follow Him. Picking up the action, item, or mindset that you left to follow Him does you no good where you should be heading. In the Bible, we are taught to not look back.

The first story in the Bible that comes to mind when learning to not look back is in Genesis 19 when the Angels visited Sodom and Gomorrah and were planning on destroying it. The Angels told Lot and his family to leave and not look back. It did not end well for Lot’s wife because she did not obey and looked back.

17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

Genesis 19:17.

26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26.

Where we are going, we will not need to look back. God will provide what we need going forward.

The second story in the Bible that comes to mind when learning is Ephesians 4, and it says this:

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24.

Why Am I Wanting To Bring Back The Old Me?

Anything can happen that may cause you to want past desires. Maybe you are wanting old comforts or something from your past is becoming “popular” again. When this happens, the best thing to remember is that God is now our comfort, and we are not called to live how the world lives. If God told you to set it down, you do not pick it back up unless He tells you to. If something is happening in your life that you are turning to the old you to heal, please remember that what healed the old you, will not heal the new you.

I have felt this way recently. A disclaimer before I explain my story: Romans 14:13-18.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Romans 14:13-18.

Just because something was bad for me, in no way am I judging you or saying it is bad. It was just bad for me. Okay, we can continue.

I had recently found out that my mom is in kidney failure. God can heal all things, and I know He is also with my mom. Sometimes though, I want the comfort of my childhood. Watching movies (mainly Twilight) or listening to music (mostly country) would help ease the anxiety. God told me to set these things down years ago. Picking up these things will not heal my mom, and it is unlikely that they will provide me the peace I need. Twilight is a movie and country music has no healing abilities. God can heal me and provide me the strength I need to keep moving regardless of what my mom’s tests say.

Picking up what I have laid down already will only weigh me down on the journey ahead. A momentary comfort is not worth the trek back up the mountain. When we are at our weakest and the temptation is there to be our old selves again, fight it. Ephesians 6:10-17 says this:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17

The old you is gone for a reason. You do not need what you set down anymore.

As always, God loves you, I love you, and I will be praying for you! Have a blessed week!