But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

This verse compels us to understand something we might not always want to admit could happen to us. Christ commanded us to take up His cross but He also warned us not to turn around and long for the world we left behind. He made it clear that it would be devastating spiritually, as well as eternally, if we did so!

This warning leads us to think of Lot's wife. She turned around and yearned for what she was leaving behind. Because she did she was destroyed by God. So it will be with Christians who look back to the world of sin longing to be in the midst of it again. Once a child of God allows a look back it is harder to continue traveling down the road of righteousness long enough to reap the benefits thereof. Just as one who is plowing must keep his eyes on what is in front of him to keep his rows straight and even, we must keep our eyes looking forward toward God and not back on Satan if we are going to reap what we have started to sow.

One would think that once we have stepped out from among the world of Satan and his adversaries, that the shining light of Christ would be all that we would care to follow or look to, but this is not always the case if we are not as grounded as we should be. Only by study, prayer and working for the Lord can we be grounded in the faith and have the strength to carry on as we should.

2 Timothy 2:15 gives us good advice:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Just as a musician must use his talent or lose it so must the Christian use their talents or lose them. It isn't always easy to follow in His steps but we will be rewarded if we do.

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should walk in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

Remember only he who endures to the end without looking back will reap the crown of life that is promised him.