If we are to set our hands upon a plow it would be a mistake for us to look back. It is necessary to look forward because in doing so we look ahead and are able to make sure that the line which is made remains straight.
Saint John the Baptist is the precursor to Christ. He is famous in saying: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his path.” Hopefully, we too desire to make straight the way for the Lord’s coming. If we are to make straight the way for the Lord we need to orient our sight towards our final destination which is Heaven.
So many have entered into the life giving waters of Baptism and later fail to cooperate with God’s grace. To be baptized is not a one and done, but is instead a life long journey. To be baptized does not mean that our life will be found without hardship, but to be baptized does mean that we have been claimed by Christ Jesus. If we have been claimed by Christ Jesus in the waters of baptism why would we want to glance back at our former ways of life?
The devil makes this state of life look so glamorious that souls are pulled away from this relationship with God. In the Garden of Eden we are told that everything was found to be good and yet Adam and Eve ushered in an era of sin and death through the Fall. Here Adam and Eve took that which was created to be good and twisted it in order that it could no longer meet its God given purpose. Likewise, the devil is unable to create anything which is new. Rather, he twists that which is created as good in order that it may no longer reach its God given purpose.
No matter what we are led to believe by popular opinion we must realize that the truth is found through Christ and through the teaching authority of the Church. If we study and follow the teaching of the church we will not become slaves, but rather be set free to live as God has attended for us to live.
The Israelites were set free from their slavery in Egypt and yet they looked back and began to grumble against God. They claimed that they were hungry, thirsty, and tired and thus it were better for them when they were slaves in Egypt. From this encounter God poured down bread from Heaven in order that they may have their fill and continue their journey towards the Promised Land.
