Luke 9:62 AMPC
Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.
My nearest and dearest's dad ploughed the first furrow on his kibbutz back in August 1938. There is an old photo faded to brown of him looking sternly ahead, gaze fixed on cutting it straight. I'm not an expert, but I expect if you turn and look back, the furrow ends up like a curly-wurly [you oldies will remember them]!
Jesus uses this agricultural illustration in urging us onward and with a forward looking attitude.
When things get hard it's tempting to look back, down tools and regress to old ways.
But the Bible is full of tragedies that followed turning or looking back:
Lot's wife Genesis 19:26; the Israelites Numbers 14:3-4 to name a couple.
I wonder where the gaze of our life is focused?
Is the focus of my life on things seen or is it on the Kingdom of God?
Do I see the rich rewards of ploughing onwards and forwards with Jesus or am I being distracted?
Remember the attitude of Jesus, who set His face like flint (Isaiah 50:7 prophesied, Luke 9:51 fulfilled) to go to the cross, as excruciating as it was, to bring us salvation.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2
Keith Green wrote a great song "So you wanna go back to Egypt" So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it's warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it's getting so hard
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard
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