Don't look back...not to mistakes, sins, problems, or good fortune...

Luke 17:28-33

28“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 

The song: I have decided to follow Jesus

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   No turning back, no turning back.
2. Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   No turning back, no turning back.
3. The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   No turning back, no turning back.
4. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   No turning back, no turning back.

Although many argue that this song is wrongly all about our decision to accept Jesus and seems to ignore that we become a Christian by faith and God's will, not our decision.  I think it is still a beautiful confession of our faith and of our conviction. 

Others criticize it for its repetition. Well, sometimes repetition is what cements the thought or idea in your head. Singing it over and over could help you finally understand what you are singing. I guess it depends on how you look at repetition!

I see where it comes from when I read the background stories about the writer of the hymn;  his being tortured by the killing of his family and eventually himself and proclaiming he will not turn back (at least that is the story I read). Whether the story behind the authorship is true or not,  the song's meaning is wonderful to me.   Don't look back;  keep your eyes on the cross and look forward to what God has in store for you...whether it appears to be good or bad at the time you are going through it. 

That brings us all the way back to Lot's wife...who looked back. We must remember we are told to not look back on the evil things if this world that were done to us or that we did to others, not that we can't learn from them,  just not to dwell on them.  God is trying to save us from destruction,  we should look forward and fix our eyes on Him!

I see this already.  Today,  I was commiserating with myself about a situation that had changed some relationships for what seemed like the worst.  As I thought through how things had changed since that situation,  I realized,  other relationships had been improved by the that changed relationship. Isn't that funny?  My how God works.  He always had a plan!  Now,  my responsibility is to not look back and focus on the situation that worsened a relationship,  and focus on the good that came from it.  I trust God will have something planned for that speed relationship also!   He always has a plan!  Thank you,  God!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Shared from PocketBible for Windows Store (http://www.laridian.com)