Looking Forward in Faith and Courage

No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)

There are four looks one may take: the backward look, the inward look, the upward look, and the forward look. The backward look is retrospective. It has its virtues, for the past has much to teach us; but the backward look sometimes saddens or embitters us, and it always arrests us. No one can look backward and go forward at the same time. We cannot live in retrospect. The inward look is introspective; it is valuable but may produce morbidity and spiritual self-consciousness. The upward look releases one from the habiliments of the flesh and elevates him into the spiritual stratosphere. But the forward look to the earnest Christian is enticing, alluring and challenging. It is prospective and purposive. It was the great quality of Jesus’ life. He had respect for the past but never worshipped it. He was a forward-looking man. In the presence of danger and death his face was steadfastly set to go to Jerusalem. Elements of the forward look are faith, optimism, courage, confidence, earnestness and enthusiasm. Jesus had all of these.