A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 4 NO. 49                                        February 3, 2008

Beware Of Looking Back

By Steve Niemeier

Here was Jesus journeying on the road and someone says to Him, “Lord I will follow You wherever You go.” (Luke 9:57).  Matthew’s account states that it was a certain scribe who made this statement.  No doubt many have made that statement at one time or another.  We really meant it at the time we said it didn’t we?

During that same journey another stated “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  In other words, I will follow You but I must take care of some things first.  Another stated that he would also follow Jesus but he needed to bid farewell to those that were at his house.  These seemed to be sincere people who just wanted to get some things in order so they could follow Jesus.

Yet, the answer that Jesus gave them in Luke 9:62 must have been a shock to them.  He stated “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  What did Jesus mean by this statement?  After all didn’t they say they would follow Him?

It seems that the plough would have had a single handle at that time.  The farmer using the plow would have to dedicate his attention to moving forward so that they would plow straight.  Looking back would mean they were not dedicated to the task ahead.  Jesus used this illustration to state that serving Him meant a total dedication to the task ahead.

We see Him stating this same thought another way in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 that we are to seek first the kingdom of God.  We understand that don’t we?  Yet, how many of us have stated that we will follow Him only to be looking back and something we think is important to do first before following Him?

Remember the account of Lot’s wife as they left Sodom and Gomorrah?  In Genesis 19:17 They were told to escape for their life and do not look behind you.  In other words they were to concentrate on the task in front of them to move forward and not to concentrate on what was behind them as they could not change what was happening behind them.

Yet, we find that in verse 26 that Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.  Wouldn’t that be an astonishing site -- a church building full of pillars of salt in the pews instead of warm bodies all because of the warm bodies not heeding the warning to not look behind.  The Lord certainly knew that one of Satan’s weapons would be our past to confuse us of which direction we should be going.

Paul learned the lesson well as we find in Philippians 3:13-14.  He knew he had not apprehended the prize as of yet but he knew he needed to move forward and not worry about what was behind.  Paul certainly could have been bogged down in his effort of pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus if he allowed himself to be caught up in what was behind him in his life.

Many spend hours wondering about the eternity of loved ones who have departed this life.  We can not change a thing about those who have departed.  We can not change a thing about our past.  We can remember our failures and what caused them and learn from them.  However, we are not to dwell on them because we must move forward pressing toward the goal, seeking first His kingdom, serving Him so we can gain that prize He has promised us.

Adding Knowledge To Our Virtue

By Steve Niemeier

As Peter stated in his exhortation on fruitful growth in our service to the Lord we are to add knowledge to our virtue as we added virtue to our faith (II Peter 1:5).  No doubt this is one area that all of us can improve in.  Many today that are professing to be a faithful child of God lack knowledge of His word.  This is evident by their actions and by their speech.

There are many reasons we should add knowledge to our virtue.  Brother Bobby K. Thompson listed the following reasons in a sermon outline.

1. Adding knowledge is a command of God --- II Peter 3:18; Ephesians 1:16-18; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-10.
2. People perish without knowledge --- Hosea 4:6; I Corinthians 10:1; Romans 1:13.
3. Knowledge keeps one from being a zealot --- Romans 10:1-3; Ephesians 5:17; II Timothy 2:15; I Corinthians 14:20.
4. Knowledge allows one to discern good and bad --- Philippians 1:9-10; Hebrews 5:12-14; Titus 1:9-11; Acts 20:32.
5. Knowledge needs to develop in the church --- I Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 5:12; Titus 1:9-11; Acts 20:32.
6. Knowledge is needed to keep from being ashamed --- II Timothy 2:15; John 8:31-32; Psalm 119:11.

We need to have the desire and determination to add knowledge to our virtue as we needed desire and determination to add virtue to our faith.