Don The Armour

Luke 9:62 was the first verse I committed to memory when I came to the Lord. It resonated with me because I knew it was touching on something that was going to be difficult for me — not looking back.

In this verse, Jesus describes looking ahead with a single purpose and keeping your focus on it. If you are trying to plow a field and are always looking back over your shoulder at where you came from, your path will never be straight, and you will never complete the task. The same principle applies to our faith.

I’ve been through a lot of phases in my life. I would get into something and think, “This is it; this is who I am!” only for it to eventually fade out as I move on to the next thing.

When I came to Christ, I feared that people would accuse me of being in another phase and, even worse, that they would be right. This verse encouraged me to keep my eyes fixed on him and keep moving forward. It couldn’t have been another phase if the Holy Spirit was truly in me. I would persevere.

This verse also challenged me to never look back longingly at my old life. My old self was dead, and I couldn’t pine after the things I had left behind. If I still desired these things, I would be unfit for the kingdom of God.

My new life of following Jesus required abandoning much of my past. I had to walk away from people who were obstacles in my path and forsake old desires, habits, and sins. I was a new creation, and the old man was dead. I would never get to Christ if I constantly looked over my shoulder or went backward to those things. I had to keep pushing the plow forward.

Finally, this verse describes the urgency of following Christ. In the verses before this one, people are telling Jesus they want to follow him, but they have to attend to a few things first. Jesus makes it clear that if we follow him, we must forsake all else and go immediately. He must be our first priority, and we can’t let anything stand between us and him. Following him isn’t something we can put off for later. He requires no less of us than everything right now. But we can take heart knowing that pushing Jesus’ plow is better than any alternative.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:29-30 (ESV)