Articles
You can’t go back . . .(and that’s o.k.)
For so many people, they dream of going back to their younger years. We hear people say, “I wish I was in high school again” or “I wish I could go back to our first year of marriage” or “I wish I was 20 years younger.” These requests are usually made when the present times are not going so well. Possibly their family life is a trial or one’s health is not like it used to be. Whatever the reason for wanting to go back in time the truth is that there is no one anyone can do this.
The reality is that it is not so bad that we can’t go back in time. Life does continue to change and there are new adventures and challenges but they can produce positive effects in our life. It is time for the new school year to begin. Do you remember when school started when you were young? It was an exciting time to have a new teacher, new clothes and books. Now it will still be exciting but it seems that everything is going to be new. With new safety and health rules and masks and social distancing, going to school 2 days and 3 days at home. This is not how it used to be. Don’t be surprised for parents to say “I wish we could go back and have school like it used to be.” The truth is . . . you can’t go back.
In the Bible, people wanted to go back from the surroundings they found themselves in. In Exodus, Moses had delivered the people from Egyptian bondage but they continued to complain and they wanted to go back to Egypt. Why did they want to go back? They thought it was better back then. In Exodus 16:3 the people said “Would to God that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we did eat bread to the full.” In a short while, God supplied the children of Israel with more food and drink than they could hold on to. They didn’t realize that what was ahead was a lot better than going back. In Galatians, the people wanted to go back to following parts of the old law. Paul tells them in Gal 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” Going back would have caused them to fall away from Christ. They didn’t realize that what was ahead was a lot better than going back.
As Christians we are to look forward to the promises of a new life, new hope, new covenant, a new family, heaven, and God’s grace and mercy. To go back to a life without Christ is to lose all these blessings. Eph. 1:3 tells us “Blessed be God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ..
It’s alright to be nervous and concerned about the world’s present conditions and the challenges before you but going back in time will not solve and help any problems you will face. Remember, it’s ok to remember the past and enjoy those experiences you had when you were younger. Remember we must all follow Paul’s instructions given to us in Phil 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Let’s all press forward because we can’t go back and as you see that’s not so bad.
