Today’s readings are:

• 1 Kings 13-14
• John 4
• Proverb 31
• Psalm 94

I’ve been re-meeting a lot of folks from my past recently. At first it was very exciting, and then as the memories came, I realize that while some of the memories were amazingly wonderful, some memories were also the worst of my life. I also realized that I hadn’t remembered most of the worst. Well, I remembered them, but they were not something I had “parked” in and stayed in for years. They weren’t part of my daily life. So while it is amazing to reconnect with folks, it has also been difficult.

Then I pick up my bible to read today’s readings and find in 1 Kings a discussion about not going back when the Lord tells you not to. It doesn’t tell us why, but the prophet was just told not to go back and eat and drink there , but to keep moving forward.

I think the key is “eat and drink there”.

So I pondered this a while, and another few verses about looking back came to mind.

Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (KJV)

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (KJV)

It is important that we remember to keep moving forward. It is also important that we honor, pray for and care about those folks in our past as well.

Even remembering the good times can lead to us thinking we can recreate them, or want them again. That can never be, it’s not possible. Even if we try, it will only lead to heartache. We are meant to live today, not in tomorrow. And I believe that is what all of these verses are talking about. Your heart motive. Why do we look back?

That is why it is important we remember the painful with the good. It keeps the memories in the realm of reality and not delusion. Looking back and wanting the past more than you want today can lead to sin, heartache and torment.  Don’t go back and “eat and drink ” there. Don’t go live there again.

That’s why Jesus warned us not to do it. It is very easy as we get older to look back and feel like they were “good times”, and I’m sure of them of were. But we mustn’t miss the chance for today to be good times!  Do not long for the past. It’s gone. God has plans for you that are much better than anything you had in the past, but you must be moving forward to get to them.

Enjoy the memories, enjoy re-visiting friends from the past, but be sure your heart motive is moving forward and loving today and not backward and loving what is past more and all will be well!

Be blessed!

-Kath

Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken from The New King James Version / Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers., Copyright � 1982. Used by permission. All rights reserved.