The Only Way is Forward

I was speaking to a brother from my church recently who gave his heart to our God about 4 years ago. Since this brother got saved he has been on fire and actively pressing towards the things of the Lord. In many ways I admire how consistently and steadfastly he pushes and presses forward to touch our Lord. – The Woman with the Issue of Blood, ‘Ain’t got nothin’ on him. (Luke 8:43-48)

I pray that all of us can be like this brother and always be advancing. But there comes a time in every Christians life where we feel that going backwards is better than pressing forward. The Christian journey becomes blurred, and our storehouse of faith becomes depleted and withdrawing begins to look more attractive than advancing.

Well, I want to let you know that I have been there and on more than one occasion. Even greater men than you and I have been there, remember John the Baptist questioning if Jesus was truly the Messiah and Job wanting to die when tested. All great men of the bible would have had similar moments of pause.

Reaching moments of retreat is all part of this Christian Walk. We are in the Potters Hand and being molded by testing is essential for us to produce Godly character and righteous fruit. In these fiery times it is easy to feel despondent as we reach our brink, but reaching our brink is exactly where God wants us. At the brink is where God shows us that the world has no hope and we cannot depend on earthly things. Our only recourse is to hold unto the Lord, the one who made the Heavens and the Earth.

So today my friend, why would you ever want to give up and go backwards? Ask yourself, “What is there to go backwards to?” Our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us that where he is we can be also. His aims and desires are for us to make it unto the end; and because of this he is stationed right by our side, never leaving nor forsaking us. But what we need to do is trust Him and have faith and keep pressing forward. “For a Christian the only way Forward is Forward!” Going backwards must not be in our vocabulary.

So today:

1. If you want to give up because you have sinned. I want you to know that God said, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” – Isaiah 1:18.

 To wash away our sins all we must do is simply ask for forgiveness in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t feel that our sins will go from scarlet (red) to pink, then after some time to white. NO, NO, NO, – forgiveness washes away our sins and makes us white immediately. Yes, you heard me right, immediately.

There is no mercy with man but in our God is mercy itself.  Daniel 9:9 (KJV) ⁹ “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him;”. Therefore, stop allowing your heart to condemn you and keep you at a standstill. Ask for forgiveness knowing you have received it and press forward in God.

2. If you want to give up because you are tired.

 Galatians 6:9 (KJV) “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

 2 Chronicles 15:7 (KJV)⁷ Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

 Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)²⁸ “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV) ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 

3. If you want to give up because of sickness.

 Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

 Matthew 12:15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

 Matthew 14:14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Exodus 23:25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

4.  If you want to give up because you are feeling weak.

 Joshua 1:9 (KJV) “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

 Philippians 4:13 (KJV) ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV)²⁹ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: ³¹ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) ¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

 As believers there are many things that come our way attempting to pull us backwards, but there are even more Godly reasons to push forward. I say again, “For a Christian the only way Forward is Forward!”

Let us all press towards the end and aim to be like the Apostle Paul when he said:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 You have come to far to give up now.