Rearviews
It occurred to me on my last road trip, how much I rely on my rearview mirrors. If you count the little, round convex ones, I have 5 mirrors on my car to keep track of what’s behind me and where I’ve been. I check them often trying to consciously keep aware of the possible hazards behind me. At the same time, I have to remind myself that whatever is behind me is important, but - it’s not where I’m going. If I spend all my time looking backward, I am asking for a disaster, possibly even death, to happen in front of me. I must continue to focus on where I’m going if I intend to reach my goal.
Life is like that, especially for Christians. We can gain much from “what’s behind” us, looking in our ‘rearview’. There are good things there… and bad things…and we can learn and benefit from both. But we must remember that stuff IS BEHIND US and we should be moving away from it, focusing on what is ahead and not staring into our past. Paul said in Phillipians3:13b to forget the things behind and reach forward to the things ahead. Jesus said we are not fit for the kingdom if we turn back to the past (Luke 9:59-62). We should “bury the past” without burying it alive!
This is the time of the year when we review the past and contemplate the future. Someone once said, “those who live in the past have no future”. Make this New Year a year to check your “mirrors” but focus on the road ahead.