Only Forward!

The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures, the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and the kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is preventing from moving in reverse by its large tail. Those who truly choose to follow Jesus should try to be like the emu and the kangaroo, moving only forward, never back.

Jesus is quoted in Luke 9:62, But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Like everything we do in life, if we turn our heads to look backward, we stray to one side or the other. Have you ever been driving when something caught your eye and you turned you head to see what it was and before you know it, you're drifting out of your lane? It's a scary situation, especially if it's one of our narrow country roads here in Texas. You quickly try to correct the direction you are going so that you're headed straight down the road again.

As a Christian, we must always focus on what's ahead of us, not what is to the side or behind. The devil is trying to distract us from our eternal goal, he wants us to be condemned to hell where he will rule over us. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, saying, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We must be like Paul, realizing we haven't achieved our goal of a Heavenly home, so we MUST forget what is behind us, reaching toward the ultimate goal of the "upward call of God".

Things in life can easily distract us. One of the things that I observed while in education, was the increase on the lack of attention spans in students, which was often attributed to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). I fear that many Christians are affected by a spiritual ADHD because we let the world distract us from our duties as Christians. I've heard people say that they are not entertained enough so there's no reason to attend church services. My question is, What is more entertaining to a Christian than worshiping our God through the song service, prayers, fellowship and Bible study? My answer is there should be NOTHING that is more enjoyable than for a Christian to participate in worshiping God Almighty and His wonderful Son, Jesus Christ.

My encouragement to you and me is to be like the emu and kangaroo, "ONLY FORWARD!" 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." To win, is to move forward, to move forward is to win! We are not in a race with each other but we are in a race against the world and the devil, to win this race, is to reach eternal life.

Strive each day to walk "In the Narrow Way."