NO TURNING BACK – Marcelle Nipper
Once again, I found myself reflecting on circumstances of today, the direction of our own country, the world, and how it is affecting me as a Christian. Not only did covid change the world and how people live, but the reaction of the government to this pandemic, from local government to the White House and Washington, not to discount pro-abortionists, transgender, same sex relationships which are all contrary to the laws of the Almighty, Holy and Righteous God who created the universe! Evil has begun to manifest itself in many ways. Then I heard the Lord speak to me saying, “There is no turning back.” “What do you mean? I asked.
God took me back to the day of my salvation and what that looked like. I realized for many years I had been making choices: continuing in my sin and living a broken and miserable life; making temporary changes that did not last, feeling like a failure; or I could choose to surrender to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. When I finally accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, my life drastically changed. I began to put all my trust in Him and was not looking back. I knew that “There is no turning back!” I knew who I was without Christ and I never wanted to go back to that old life.
I realized that no turning back is a life commitment. That is why it is so important to not lose sight of who we are in Christ. He not only saves us from hell, but he continues to save us from Satan and his schemes, temptation, and circumstances we find ourselves in, leaving us helpless, or even hopeless; but he brings us home to be eternally with God! So let us hold on to the faith by grace and press on towards the goal as the Apostle Paul has done.
Then The Lord began to show me things as He brought to my remembrance Lot’s wife in Genesis 19:26 “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Luke also said in Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot’s wife, whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” To recall, Lot’s wife was warned by angels to get out before God destroyed the city of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone; “flee and don’t look back”, they said. BUT, she did! Lot’s wife needed an attitude adjustment. The condition of her heart was the issue. She did not want to give up her worldly goods, she did not believe God would destroy the place she loved. A place she had become comfortable in and called home. She remembered the good times, even though her husband Lot was vexed because of the iniquity within Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife was clinging to the comforts of the past, to the things she could taste, smell, and see. She disobeyed God and looked back, longing for what she called home, rather than choosing to put her life into the hands of God who could save her and she lost her life. Jesus had said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”
So, let’s examine our own lives. Who or what do we serve? What are you and I holding on to? Is it struggling with sin or guilt from the past; shame, addiction of any sort; loneliness, anxiety, worry, depression, suicidal thoughts, feeling unworthy or unloved, bitterness, or unforgiveness? Maybe it is looking back to the way things were before the pandemic and mask mandates? The easy life or pleasures of this world. Is it unbelief because God hasn’t answered prayers, so you question God? Are you overwhelmed with worry and concern, whether it is for a lost family member, financial provision, or health issues? Maybe our lives are standing still, paralyzed, rather than going forward, trusting God as the world turns more and more godless, truth turned to lies; good called evil and evil called good? Are we being controlled by the chaos, confusion, death, disease and pandemics? Are we living in fear, not knowing whom to believe, division among families, and political upheaval?
We have an answer, not only for ourselves, but for the world! His name is JESUS! Jesus is our salvation, our hope, our strength, our provision, our healer, our deliverer. He is the only one who has loved us more than life! He gave His life so that we could have life, and have life more abundantly! It is an eternal life with the Father. He is our joy and peace! So let us come to Him and know the depth, width, and the height of His love, so we can go forward in this life!
How can we press forward? By laying your burdens at the foot of the cross. Trust in Jesus. Lay aside every weight and sin. John 5 & 6 says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” What a wonderful promise! Forget the things which are behind and hold on to the promises of God. Let us reach for those things set before us as the ambassadors of Christ and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He said that He will never leave or forsake us; He will send the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to abide within our hearts and guide us, be our counselor, our teacher, one who convicts us of sin so that we can quickly repent. We are not alone! Do you believe this? Do I? If so, then look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Let us rejoice in the Lord always, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. Only then will the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ, no matter our circumstances. In this we can have peace with God in in His strength, continue to go forward and not turn back!
Our Father is so loving that He has given us a Word in this hour. He said, “I AM Light”. In John 8:12 Jesus spoke saying “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”; and John 12:46 says, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.” Satan wants to sift us. He wants to kill, steal and destroy our lives and the lives of our loved ones, but if we keep focused on Jesus, who is the light, He will see that we make it to the end! Lot’s wife was holding on to a life she was comfortable in, the old life. She loved the world more than the desire to be obedient to God, looked back, and lost her life. We understand that the old life leads to death, but now we have a new life in Christ which leads to eternal life. God created us for this very hour, to be salt and light to a dark world. There is no time to turn back, longing for what was, nor is it a time to sit stagnant; for one day soon, Jesus will be returning for the saints of God. He has called us to be ministers of reconciliation, so are you pressing forward towards the goal, reaching out to all you come across to share this hope we have in Jesus? Let us hold fast to the foundation of our faith, who is Jesus Christ, love and serve God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength; and others as yourself. Allow the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in you be so prevalent, that others will see Jesus in you and ask, what is this hope you have? Our rewards are laid up in heaven, so let us declare to the world: THERE IS NO TURNING BACK! I AM GOING ON IN JESUS! WILL YOU?