DON'T LOOK BACK

  Luke 9:62 (NIV) Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to
  the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

       INTRODUCTION:
  A.   Satchel Paige and his good rule for living.
       1. “Don’t look back, something may be gaining on you.”
       2. The Bible also calls for not looking back.  Luke 9:62—But Jesus         said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking      back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

  B.   Looking back hinders forward progress.
       1. Looking back may be making you depressed.
       2. Looking back may be bringing you defeat.

  I.   DON’T LOOK BACK AT SINS THAT HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.
       A. 1 John 1:7-9
     B. God really does put our sins away (Psalm 103)
     C. Perhaps you believe this for others, but not for yourself.
     D. But God can and will forgive sins and put them away.

 II.   DON’T LOOK BACK AT DEFEATS THAT GET YOU DOWN.
     A. All people have some defeats in their past.
       B. Only those who never attempt anything are free from failing.
       C. Psalm 37:23-24—The steps of a good man or ordered by the Lord, and      He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly         cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
       D. Don’t allow failing to make you feel you are a failure.

 III.   DON’T LOOK BACK AT THE PAST AND SEE IT BETTER THAN IT WAS.
       A. Ecclesiastes 7:10—Do not say, “Why were the former days better than     these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
       B. Israel looking back to Egypt—Numbers 11:18—Who will give us meat to     eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.
     C. Distance lends enchantment.
       D. Nostalgia is never quite honest.
       E. Vance Havner:  “The present is never as good as it used to be.
       F. A great future beats a great past every time.

 IV.    DON’T LOOK BACK AT CONFLICTS THAT MAKE YOU BITTER.
       A. If you rehearse old conflicts the hurt returns.
       B. Rehashing things opens old wounds.
       C. Even those where forgiveness has taken place will become dangerous      again if you keep going over them.
       D. Forget the past and get on with profitable living.  1 Peter 2:1-2—      Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy,        and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the  pure milk of       the Word, that you may grow thereby.

 V.    DON’T LOOK BACK AT OLD VICTORIES THAT MAY CAUSE YOU TO THINK YOU HAVE   ARRIVED.
       A. Philippians 3:12-14
       B. I served the Lord with all my heart….once.
       C. I was a soul winner…..once.
       D. I was sold out to Christ….once.
       E. What about today?

 CONCLUSION:
       A. Don’t look back!
       B. Look up.  Hebrews 12:1-2
       C. Look on the fields and in caring for others you will forget the past.
       D. Look ahead!  The best is yet to come.