Don’t Dwell In The Past, But Keep Moving Forward

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(18) <The Lord said,>“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (19) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”’ (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Two of my favorite shows, before going to bed for the evening, on the streaming channels is ‘the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson‘, and the other is ‘the Ed Sullivan Show‘. I cannot get into today’s variety shows or modern entertainers as they are too liberal, too secular, and too ‘woke’. The propensity for foul language and the liberal ‘woke’ leanings of the modern performers tune me out. Today’s performers don’t appear as passionate to hone their craft as before (in my humble opinion, of course).

There have also been Christian and conservative performers who have not been able to work or perform on stage due to boycotts within the entertainment industry against those holding such beliefs. The tide is changing, though, for such performers. Several Christian-focused film producers such as Angel Studios and Kendrick Brothers Productions are making such films popular again, and the American public seems to be reacting positively and choosing such films for entertainment.

There are also signs that TV studios are starting to understand this. ‘The View’ a panel of five liberal-leaning women historically hostile to conservatives and the Christian worldview, has been told by its parent company ABC to tone down its biased rhetoric as its ratings are dropping and criticism of the show is rising. Perhaps a live late night show will come with a host similar to Johnny Carson, who was down the middle politically (picking jabs on both sides), or a show similar to Ed Sullivan, who had no social agenda other than showcasing the best talent of the day.

We can look back, but we cannot dwell there. The past does not change anything today, except for having an example to learn from. We must learn from history, in order not to repeat it and to also build upon it, correcting the mistakes made and improving to move forward. Johnny Carson is still funny and entertaining, but dated. It would be much better to see a new host and new talent – unbiased, un-woke talent, come to the forefront to fill that niche.

There are many examples where the Lord instructs us to look forward, and look at the positive aspects that is in front of us.  In Isaiah 43, God is telling the Israelites that while he has scattered them away from the Promised Land due to their disobedience, to not dwell on their present situation or what has befallen them in the past, but to look forward to what the Lord will provide. 

In Luke 9:60, Jesus speaks of letting ‘the dead bury the dead’, which corresponds to Isaiah 43:18; once something has occurred, it is finished and cannot be changed.  We are implored by the Lord to instead look at what we should be doing now with what we have, and not look back and have regrets on what we could have done differently.    

There is a two-fold issue with the past; it can be either be a look-back on negative aspects or a wistfulness on better times.  As a young ‘Studly Do-Right’, I could run fast, lift heavy weights, and had great stamina and could continually motor on for hours, and had the body of an Adonis with six-pack abs.  Fast forward 40 years and now I waddle, realizing I take breaks more often, and a keg now protects my six-pack abs.  Do I wish I had the abilities and looks of a much younger me? 

Of course, but back then Shirley and I were broke most of the time, we had to platoon one car between the two of us, and our living conditions were either small apartments or tight townhouses.  While I truly believe that Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 19:26) in a wistful desire to get back what ‘good times’ she lost, it can also be a metaphor for those who dwell too much in the past. 

Lot’s wife was likely a socialite, with tea parties or ‘Mary Kay’ events and was the ‘toast of the town’.  (Billy Joel’s song ‘Big Shot’ comes to mind.)  We can become frozen in the time of ‘back in the day’ and lose the blessings that we have in the ‘here and now’.  She had her life ahead of her with Lot moving forward, but instead lost it looking back at her past.

I am thankful for the blessings I have now; the things of the past I have lost have no relevance of today’s life except as an example to learn from.  While I may not run, I can still waddle on down the road, and when I take breaks I take in what the Lord has surrounded me with.  I hold no regrets over the past – the bad things as well as the good – as they’ve shown me that Lord does forgive, and what He has blessed us with. 

We may all reminisce but don’t dwell over what you had or what you lost, but look at what you’ve gained in Christ and how much more you’ll gain in the future with Him!  yesterday is over, and there’s nothing more we can do to change anything about what occurred in it.  Move forward with Jesus, and look forward to what He will provide in it!