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Looking Back or Looking Ahead - Hebrews 11
Looking Back or Looking Ahead - Hebrews 11
While talking about the ins and outs of repentance, a man asked me: “I don’t want to do those things again, but can I remember them fondly?” Fondly?
After speaking of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, the Hebrew writer states:
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Concerning the thinking of these great men of faith, we read that “if they had been thinking of the country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return” (vs. 15). The life of faith is littered with bad detours: choices that brought evil and sin into our lives, choices that pulled our hearts away from God; choices that brought pain and heartache. Remembrance of such does not bring feelings of fondness but remorse and shame.
The heart of temptation is desire, and desire is often centered on such ‘fond remembrance’. To lessen the amount of temptation in our lives, we simply must change how we remember such events. Remember fondly? NO!
Behind us lies a life of both success and failure, good choices and bad ones, righteousness and ungodliness. Ahead of us is life with God! Paul admonishes: “1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
What have you set your mind on?
Hugh DeLong
