Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:62 CSB
Jesus lived in a time when almost everyone was familiar with agriculture...
and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:62 CSB
Jesus lived in a time when almost everyone was familiar with agriculture...
Farms were practically everywhere, and many families had their own gardens or small fields. So, people knew what a plow is, and what it was used for. It was an implement used to cut through, break up, and turnover the soil in order to begin planting. A plow was pulled along by an animal, usually an ox. It was an essential tool for any farmer or anyone trying to grow something.
So, it was not simply a casual reference that Jesus was making in the Scripture above. He was trying to teach a lesson, and a very important one. A plow, by design, is made to go in one direction. Forward! It's not made to go in reverse. A plowman must keep his eyes directly ahead. To look to the right or left, or to turn his head around, would cause the plow to go off course, thus damaging his field.
And so it is for those who have chosen to follow the Lord. There is only one direction to go, and that is forward. For those who have received Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and who have repented of their sins and wrongdoings, God has in turn chosen not only to forgive their sins, but to forget them, as well.
This, you see, is one of the blessings of salvation. The Lord will never hold our past misdeeds and offenses against us. Yet we may have to reap the consequences of those bad choices. Nevertheless, God wants us to move forward with our lives, and not be in bondage to endless guilt and regret. He wants us to forget our past failings, because He has already forgotten them.
As for putting one's hand to the plow, this is an illustration of the importance of leaving the past behind, and pressing on to greater achievements of character and betterment. But this cannot be done in our own strength. We need God's help.
For the followers of Messiah Jesus, our spiritual eyes must remain fixed upon Him. To look to the left or right, or to look back, is to invite the possible derailment of one's faith, and bring harm to his soul.
Brethren, keep plowing forward. Do not turn back to the world. Leave the memories of your past sins behind. They're under the blood of Jesus.
D.B.
So, it was not simply a casual reference that Jesus was making in the Scripture above. He was trying to teach a lesson, and a very important one. A plow, by design, is made to go in one direction. Forward! It's not made to go in reverse. A plowman must keep his eyes directly ahead. To look to the right or left, or to turn his head around, would cause the plow to go off course, thus damaging his field.
And so it is for those who have chosen to follow the Lord. There is only one direction to go, and that is forward. For those who have received Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and who have repented of their sins and wrongdoings, God has in turn chosen not only to forgive their sins, but to forget them, as well.
This, you see, is one of the blessings of salvation. The Lord will never hold our past misdeeds and offenses against us. Yet we may have to reap the consequences of those bad choices. Nevertheless, God wants us to move forward with our lives, and not be in bondage to endless guilt and regret. He wants us to forget our past failings, because He has already forgotten them.
As for putting one's hand to the plow, this is an illustration of the importance of leaving the past behind, and pressing on to greater achievements of character and betterment. But this cannot be done in our own strength. We need God's help.
For the followers of Messiah Jesus, our spiritual eyes must remain fixed upon Him. To look to the left or right, or to look back, is to invite the possible derailment of one's faith, and bring harm to his soul.
Brethren, keep plowing forward. Do not turn back to the world. Leave the memories of your past sins behind. They're under the blood of Jesus.
D.B.
