A Pause to Ponder God"s Word
"Don't Look Back"

In a church where I served as a youth pastor one of the men in the congregation owned and operated a farm. Though farming was not his livelihood, he did still maintain one of the fields. One day he mentioned to me that he was plowing and I was welcome to come help him if I'd like. I took him up on his offer and in doing so gained a valuable insight into what Jesus meant when He told a would be disciple that "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

When I arrived at the farm I admitted to the gentleman that I had always been amazed how farmers got the rows in the fields so straight. I was fearful that I would not be able to make them straight when I plowed for him. I was sure that I could handle the tractor, for I had operated heavy equipment in road construction, which I did to put myself through college. But getting the rows straight concerned me. He assured me that I would do fine and he would teach me how to getting them straight.

We hopped on the tractor and out into the field we went. When we came to the edge of the field he instructed me to find an object on the horizon at the other end of the field. Then he told me to look at that object and drive straight for it. "Do not worry about checking behind you," he said. "Do not look back to the plow. Keep you eyes looking ahead to that object." The completed rows revealed every time I took my eyes off of the object, for every time I did I would veer off to one side or the other. It wasn't until I stopped being concerned about what was happening behind me and only looked forward that I consistently got the rows straight.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus is the only way we can keep from veering off the straight and narrow path of righteousness. When we get concerned about all the things that are left behind or what is happening to our right or left we veer off the path and get lost. Jesus is not being harsh in telling us we are not fit for his kingdom if we look back. He is teaching us a crucial fact about walking the narrow way. To look in any other direction but forward to Him places us in serious jeopardy. We cannot follow Him if we are distracted or looking elsewhere. Therefore, beloved, let us keep our eyes forward fixed on Jesus - only!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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