Some of you may have heard of the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s a very fascinating telescope, needless to say very expensive. Launched on December 25, 2021, its design was with the intent to help answer three questions. How did we get here? Are we alone in the universe? How does the universe work? Each question is loaded to the gill with a flood of emotional and personal responses towards what mankind has been doing since the dawn of time. One of the ironic thing about this concept of space and telescopes, when you look through the lens of any telescope, your actually seeing back in time, in the past—mainly because as light travels to our eyes, it takes time to reach us when seeing objects far away. Sort of mesmerizing thought, isn’t it? According to scientists, if the sun would go totally dark, it would take approximately 8 minutes for us to have no light on earth.
Since it seems to be mankind’s goal to try and understand its future, we can only access most of the knowledge from what has happened, in the past, verses what hasn’t happened yet! Let me ask you this morning, is it not enough to trust in God in all that he has done for us in the past and present to give us full assurance for a bright and cheerful future? Absolutely, this is one of several reasons why we look at the past, to remember, reflect and respond to His divine purpose for our future and not our past.
The images from this massive telescope are by far the best mankind has ever developed. From the star clusters, nebulae, black holes, and even planets and our moon, Gods majestic wonder is beyond all comprehension. Listen to the Psalm 8:3–4 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place; 4 What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him?”
In not looking back in time, it pains me to say that the truth hurts. Truth of what has happened and what will happen if we stay a certain course. To avoid pain and suffering, we desire so much to predict the future, to prepare ourselves as much as possible and possible avoid pain and suffering. In doing so, mankind tends to neglect Gods promises, even when we read and study them, all because we value the past more than the future—just as mankind worships Gods creation more than the creator. Listen to what God told the Prophet Jeremiah “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Where in that statement does it hint there is no purpose or plan for the future? It doesn’t! The future is what we are to look forward to too, not the past.
In starting our journey today, we are going to look at how each of us should not fully focus on the past as both individuals and a people. We have so much more to look forward too even IF we don’t think so. Last Sunday we briefly looked at the prophet Simeon who would not see death until he laid eyes upon the coming messiah. Simeon was seriously devout and righteous man that waited patiently for God’s answer to the people, not just his own. Simeon look for the future of Gods promises, not the past. Arguably, Simeons response to Mary is possible the first Christmas carol when he said, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Very powerful indeed.
My friends, the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the future, not the past. The future seems to be considered by many one of dread, fear and discouragement, mainly because of the unknown. I want to tell you that the future is our only hope. We cannot drive forward in life looking through the rear-view mirror. When looking back, we are staying focused on what was and not what is to come when dealing with the sin problem. Looking back in scripture both shows and tells us of what the future holds based solely on Gods promises—this cannot be avoided.
How many of us would love to take a big eraser and remove certain things from the past? I bet most of us would. If certain elements of our past were erased our future would defiantly be different. If sin didn’t exist in the world, we would have no need of Christmas, no need for Easter, no need for the Holy Bible, no need for a Savior, because all would be at peace and in harmony. This is what I think heaven would be like, where scripture tells us in the book of Revelation “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Just think of it! Without sin, our lives would be so complete we couldn’t even imagine! Yet until that day comes by the return of our Lord and Savior to be the righteous judge of all the earth, we have to have a future and a hope to look forward too, otherwise, everything is null and void. Our past simply is a compelling story that shows there is a future and a hope to look forward to. God is not done.
So there are a few perspectives to think about this morning in not looking back. Firstly, this being a new year we can always start things new, but we do not need to start things new at the beginning of a new year, new moon or even a new day, we can start things right now—it doesn’t have to wait. It shouldn’t have to wait. Change needs to start now because its quite possible it will be too late.
During the last days of the Third Reich and our allies bombed Stuttgar, a minister named Helmut preached a series of sermons based on the Lord's Prayer. After the last message a woman approached him and declared while pointing to a cellar close by, "My husband died right over there. The clean-up squad was unable to find a trace of him; all that was left was his cap." Not knowing what to say, the women continued and she expressed gratitude and pointed to a local church, "We were there the last time you preached in the cathedral church, and here before the bombing, I want to thank you for preparing him for eternity."
Another perspective is when we see the past, we not only see God at work but we also see the results of sin. We have absolutely no value in reliving the past, all because what Christ came to do from the start of Christmas was what you heard Simeon say “this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many,” notice it did not say all—this is ONLY for those who trust and believe in the living God. This is forewarning. The future. Christ came to die in order to save, this is our future.
Another perspective is when we trust God with our future, we will be blessed and protected beyond measure. Psalm Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Last but certainly not least, we dishonor God by looking back. Job tells us “If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.” Putting our trust in the future based upon anything else except Christ is being unfaithful.
Hebrews 12 tells us “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith.” Notice the word race used here used in Greek ag-one which means to gathering, contest, struggle. We are to press forward, not backward. The Apostle Paul told us “Fight the good fight, stay the course and finish the race.” We are NOT to look back. Are you getting the picture friends? Staying focused on God means we have a valid and true reason to look to a hopeful and bright future regardless of our circumstance. Paul tells us in his letter to the people of Philipi, Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I cannot say it any better than that.
Whether starting a new job, new hobby or rejuvenating your spirit with God, do all things a new by not looking back—staying focused on Gods future for you. For if we start “Trusting the Lord with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understand,” then we will discover God will renew a steadfast spirit within each of us, which means no matter what, God will reside where we need him in the present and all the way into the future.
We cannot know what the future holds friends, but because of Luke’s witness and prophets like Simeon and many others, we know who holds the future. Trust it, embrace it, caress it knowing to never look back—and hearing the words of mighty Joshua, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Amen.