Have you ever been going down the highway and realized that you have either missed your exit or just passed the last gas station for a while. Your first instinct is that you need to turn around, but then you notice that every turn around spot has a "no u-turn" sign. For me personally, I won't turn around in those spots if it says that. I alway have the idea in the back of my head that there is cop somewhere watching just that turn around spot and as soon as I do, he will pull me over...hahaha. However, I also don't do it because it really is against the law. Why is that? Not because the state of Ohio decided to be jerks and not let anyone turn around, but instead it is because they are trying to protect you and the other drivers on the highway. They know that it's just not worth the risk for you to make that u-turn and cause an accident.
This morning as I was traveling to work I passed one of those signs. And when I did God started talking to me about never going back where you came from. That just like the u-turn sign is there to protect you from getting into an accident....He doesn't want "spiritual u-turns" for us either. One of the things the enemy loves to tempt us with is the familiar. Familiar, no matter how messed up it was, still has a misplaced feeling of safety, or comfort, or even trust. But God doesn't want us staying in, or going back to, the familiar. He wants to take into something better. But stepping into something better often means stepping into the unknown. And that can tend to have some fear that comes along with it that you will need to overcome. Which is again where God comes into the picture. It is His desire to teach us to rely on Him to get through the fear, to take the step out in faith and to get to a place you have never been.
When you are walking in God's will for your life, and He is trying to take you to a place you have never been, never let a u-turn be an option. Going backwards, or going back to the familiar places you know, does not promote growth. Not spiritually, not emotionally and not in the purpose that God is calling you to. 1 Peter 1:13-14 NKJV says "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance". To fully get what Peter was trying to say here you have to understand the language of their culture. However, I really love the way the NLT version translates this..."So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then." In a nutshell, you have found the answers you have always been looking for, Jesus! So demonstrate self control and don't go back to your old desires because now you know better.
Just like the state of Ohio wants to protect you by not allowing those u-turns, God also wants to protect you by telling you not to go back. Not to old ways of thinking. Not to old actions. And even in some cases not to old places or even old friends. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new". To God, once you have found Jesus, the old stuff is "passed away". It's dead and gone. And there is nothing to be gained by going back to something that does not offer life. Jesus offers abundant life, so keep pressing forward with Him! (see John 10:10)
God, Thank You that once we surrender to You, our past is dead and gone! Give us the strength to overcome the temptations to go back to the familiar and help us to keep pressing forward with You. And may our redeemed lives be seen by others so they will also want the new life that you have to offer them. In Jesus name, Amen
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