Inspirational Article From Joanne Lowe Index of Writings by Joanne Lowe on Gospel Web

DON’T LOOK BACK

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103: 10 – 12 King James Version

Several years ago, I read in the newspaper a statement that someone had made in honor of a friend who had just gone home to be with Jesus. The person said in honor of her friend “She never said an unkind word about anyone.” When I read that statement, I felt ashamed and embarrassed because before I was saved I was guilty of saying unkind things all the time about people and to them.

One day our precious Heavenly Father spoke to my heart and said “Don’t look back.” We read in the Bible “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 13, 14).

This is just another sneaky attack from satan because he wants us to live in shame and guilt. However, if we have confessed our sins and asked Jesus to forgive us, He has forgiven us and removed our transgressions from us and He will never hold them against us again. Oh that we would be like Jesus and forgive people from our hearts and never hold what they say to us against them again.

Thank God that He does not give us the punishment that we deserve for our sins. Our precious Saviour as He hung there on the cruel cross of horror in agony took our sins upon Him and paid the price for us. He paid the price for us because we couldn’t pay it ourselves. God can’t look on sin so it took our sinless Saviour to die in our place. Thank You, Jesus, for Your heart of compassionate love and for paying the price for us.

None of us are perfect. You will sin and you will fail Jesus but when you do sin and fail Him don’t allow satan to keep you in bondage. If Jesus has forgiven you, then you are forgiven. Don’t dwell on what you did in the past. Jesus doesn’t hold your past against you so you shouldn’t let satan make you feel ashamed.

If you have sinned and hurt somebody, humble yourself and ask Jesus to forgive you and ask Him to help you when you are tempted to say something unkind to someone. Above all, don’t look back and don’t listen to satan because he is a liar. You have been forgiven through the precious blood of Jesus so don’t look back on your past. Look forward and serve our wonderful Saviour for the rest of your life.

Joanne Lowe

November 24, 2007