Articles
Forward, or Backward? (2)
As we noted last week, it is about this time every year that we start thinking about the year gone by, and looking forward to the next. We also noted how, with the memories of the past year in mind, we start thinking about the next year and how it can be better, and what we want to do in the next calendar year [those old New Year’s resolutions]. But we also asked the question of whether to look forward or backward, and addressed what the Scriptures teach us about looking backward last week. This week, let us see what the Scriptures teach about looking forward.
Looking Forward: The Scriptures’ Exhortations. Without a doubt, Christians should be people who look forward — more than anyone else; but as we look forward, let us not look too far forward, lest we overlook some things here on earth that we must not miss. Some of the things we should look forward to here on earth will go a long way in ensuring we can look forward to the eternal reward.
Persecutions. The apostle Paul plainly stated to Timothy in his second letter, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12), so the faithful servant of Christ can look forward to persecution. That should not come as a surprise to any disciple, for Jesus told the apostles, shortly before He was taken away to be tried and crucified, “because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19); He had told the disciples in the Limited Commission, “you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matt. 10:22). And why will — why does — the world hate the followers of Jesus? Jesus answers that, too: “everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Followers of Jesus expose sin for what it is, and those who would rather revel in their sins hate those who expose them — Christians.
It is this expectation of being hated that is behind the words of Peter when he wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Pet. 4:12), and the words of John when he wrote, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). We should not be surprised at hatred and persecutions; if they would reject the most righteous of all, Jesus, and hate Him simply because He spoke truth, what would we expect would happen to those who follow Jesus and spread His teachings?
With the knowledge that we should look forward to persecution and hatred, we should be prepared for such so we are not surprised, and that we do not allow such to discourage, dishearten, or overwhelm us. Instead of failing in the midst of trials, Jesus said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:12). Peter echoed this when he wrote that we should not be surprised at fiery trials but, instead, “rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13). Only if we endure these trials can we truly and honestly look forward to the eternal rest and reward.
Opportunities. Part of our responsibilities, as Christians, is to help spread the words of Jesus to the world around us. By definition, a disciple is “One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another” [American Heritage Dictionary], so it is each disciple’s responsibility to do that, and not just a select few. And since it is the responsibility of each one of us who is a disciple of Jesus Christ, we should be looking for every opportunity to do just that.
I know we sometimes think there is no one out there who is interested in hearing what God has to say, but even 2000 years ago, Jesus told His disciples, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35); He also said to them on another occasion, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt. 9:37). The fact is, the harvest is just as “white” and just as “plentiful” as it was when Jesus spoke those words. Souls still need saving!
Toward that end, the apostle Paul wrote, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15, 16; ESV); and to the Christians in Colossæ, he wrote similarly, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Col. 4:5). What better use of our time could there be than in the work of striving to save souls? Paul himself would say he had “become all things to all people, that by all means [he] might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22); should we do any less? In this we should heed his words when he wrote, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
Looking forward to leading lost souls will require an attitude of positive expectations, for as we think, so will we see and act. If we think there is no one interested, we won’t find anyone interested; but if we think there might be someone out there we could reach, we will be doing everything we can to find that one. We won’t worry about the 99% who reject us and the Lord, but will focus on the 1% who will listen. “Lift up your eyes” is good advice, in this case, because we sometimes are too busy looking down or looking away that we miss what could be opportunities to lead souls to the words of eternal life. How we see others and what we do in response will play a part in whether or not we can truly and honestly look forward to…
The eternal rest and reward. Of course, disciples look forward to the promised rest and reward; this is a given. John wrote in simple terms, “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25). This was not promised to us by any man, but by God Himself! As Paul put it, he lived “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:1, 2). This was a promise we could believe because of who promised it: the God who cannot lie!
The writer of Hebrews pointed to the eternal reward as “rest,” and exhorted the early disciples to not allow the current persecutions to surrender that reward. He pointed to the example of the Israelites who failed to enter Canaan and admonished the first-century disciples, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Heb. 3:16-4:1), and concluded, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Heb. 4:11). That is an admonition all disciples of all time should heed, for if God’s people then [the Israelites] could fail to receive a promised reward and rest, so can God’s people today [Christians].
So, yes, we should look backward and forward. But, even so, let us follow the example of Paul who said, “one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13, 14). Look backward, but don’t dwell in the past; look forward, but not so far we overlook the necessary things and responsibilities of this earthly life.
In conclusion, I pray that the coming year will be better than the past. And for those of you who are not yet disciples of Jesus, there is no better way to start than with Jesus as your Savior. With Him, your past is forgotten and your future bright. — Steven Harper
