The Rear View Mirror

The other day I was driving along the country road that takes me over the mountain toward town.  As I was passing the boarding stable on the right and approaching the farm on the left, I realized that my mirrors weren't set right.  I began to adjust them and was having a difficult time of it.  As I continued along I began to consider what a blessing it was that I hadn't run off the road or crashed into something.  My attention was focused so much behind me that I really wasn't watching where I was going.  It was by the grace of God that I was still on the road and hadn't hurt anyone.  I began to think about how life is like driving a car, and it's best to keep our attention focused on where we are going with only occasional glances at where we have been. 

It can be all to easy for that scene in the rear view mirror to distract us as we navigate this life.  Sometimes it's regret that takes our eyes off the road in front of us.  We get so caught up in the "should of, could of, would of," which we can't change, that we miss the now we could be excelling in.  Guilt over choices made in the past can plague us in the present if we allow it to.  There is no reason to dwell in the past; we must live in the present and look to the future with hope.  An occasional glance in the rear view mirror can remind us to make better choices now, but we don't have to continually beat ourselves up over them.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  If God sent His perfect Son to die in our place so that our sins could be forgiven (John 3:16), then who are we to hold a grudge against ourselves.  Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 "...But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Another thing that can trip us up is camping out on fond memories and becoming discontent with our current situation.  This can harm relationships.  We can become so preoccupied with how things were that we find ourselves frustrated during a rocky spell, and rather than working our way through to the smoother road ahead, we get stuck.  Unfortunately many people abandon the relationship when, if they would just buckle their seat belt and endure the bumps, they would find what they're looking for a few miles down the road.  Sometimes you even have to get out and push, but it's worth the effort to keep moving forward.  I realize that this isn't always the case, and would not encourage a person to continue suffering actual abuse, but often the things that tear people apart are not so one sided.  It's ok to remember "the good old days,"  but not at the expense of the better days ahead.  Colossians 3:12-17 gives us some equipment and procedures to help us on our way.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

When we keep our eyes on what is behind us instead of looking out ahead, we run the risk of getting off course and having a wreck.  There is one place it's always wise to fix our gaze.  Hebrews 12:2 speaks of "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."   Whether the road is clear ahead or there are obstacles to overcome, whether the past is filled with mountain tops or deep dark tunnels,  there is only One who can take us into eternity filled will life abundant and free.  Let's keep our eyes on Jesus, and if you have never looked to Him, why not start today?

Special note:  Sometimes we need to reconcile things in our past, but it can be dangerous to try and do that alone.  If there are things you just can't leave behind you, please seek counseling.  I recommend finding a Christian counselor who will be straight with you about what God says in His word.