Just In Case
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Looking Back – I’ve looked. I put my hand to the plow, started down the row following Jesus, and then looked back. I looked back at my future. I looked to see where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, how I wanted to be successful. I looked back at all those dreams about me, my desires and my needs. The plow veered off course. I hit a rock. I stumbled and fell. It was a hard lesson to learn, seeing my version of my life fall apart before my eyes. But it was a necessary lesson. Looking back nearly killed me.
The Greek helps us to see what Jesus really meant. Blepon eis ta opiso is literally “looking to that behind.” This is “just in case” thinking. It is the unwillingness to leave behind what belongs in the grave. It is holding back a few of the assets of the dead just in case life with Jesus doesn’t turn out the way I want it to. Every time I invest in my own version of the future rather than devoting what I have to God’s holy destruction, I am really looking back. I’m really saying, “Lord, you aren’t able to take care of this issue, so I will just make sure I’m covered.” It’s betting on the dead life that I can see rather than exercising confident assurance on the real life that I can’t see.
Looking back is a very scary thought. It’s so easy to make the mental jump to what we left behind. It’s so tempting to think, “Oh, if I only had such-and-such back in my life. Then things would be easier (better) (happier).” Looking back is scary because it is so available.
Jesus warns us (although we often pay no attention). If you look back in fond desire for the things consigned to destruction, you are not fit for the Kingdom. That is really harsh. But Jesus wasn’t kidding. This isn’t hyperbole. Citizens of the Kingdom are sold out! They don’t have escape plans. They don’t operate reserve funds. They aren’t interested in a return to the land of the dead. No matter what happens, they know that Jesus has the words of eternal life. Where else can they go? It’s all or nothing for them. If this option doesn’t work, there is no Plan B.
If you want a perfect example of a man who put his hand to the plow and looked back, you can think about Judas. Three years with Jesus, watching, waiting, hoping to see the Messiah that he wanted. Judas reached the conclusion that Jesus was a failure because Jesus failed to meet his future desires. After three years at the plow, he looked back. The rest is history. Judas betrayed Jesus because he wanted a different ending. He wanted an ending that he could see in the rear view mirror; one that met his requirements.
The chilling question is this: What kind of ending do you want?
