Looking Back Or Looking Forward

It is said that Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China years ago, used to hang in his home a plaque with two Hebrew Words on it: EBENEZER & JEHOVAH JIREH. The first word, EBENEZER, means ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us’ and the second JEHOVAH JIREH, ‘The Lord will see to it or provide.’ One looked back while the other looked forward. One reminded him of God’s faithfulness and the other of God’s assurances.

As I talked with the children this morning, we spoke of the plans that God has for us. We started off 2023 wondering what God’s plan would be for us. The same thought enters our minds as we look forward to 2024.

I would like to end this year by looking back just a little at what God has done for us this year. What blessings has God poured out on us? You may have been a part of it all, you might have been a part of some of it, or you might not have been here for any of it. None the less, I think it would do us all good to remember the blessings that God has sent our way. PRAYER

Just a few statistics to begin with. Sermons preached - 144. Baptisms - 3 - Pakistan baptisms - 5. New Church Members - 14. Funerals - 8

- For many of you, for many of us I should say, we have spent a lot of time in doctors’ offices. But I am thankful that most of you are here today and at least doing fairly well. God has heard our prayers all year asking for healing and He has done just that.

- Our clothes closet has partnered with at least 2 school districts and that ministry reaches 100s in our community with clothes and food. They have contributed over $7000 of clothes to those who were not able to provide for themselves.

- God blessed us with a huge turnout for a blood drive that was held here at the church in February.

- Our brotherhood group elected new leadership as did our deacon body.

- We were finally able to participate in the river cruise in March on our Vanishing River tour.

- We had an emotional Tenebrae service on Good Friday in April. Easter Sunday was another great day of worship in our Sonrise service as well as our regular service. Easter cantata.

- We celebrated our Mothers on Mothers Day and our fathers on Fathers Day.

- We recognized our high school and college graduates again this year.

- Our youth worked hard on their mission trip to

- We had an energetic and exciting time during our VBS week.

- Hot dog social in July. Kids fun day. Back to school bash. Church picnic.

- Fall Festival. Thanksgiving baskets. Angel tree. Back packs. Christmas cantata. Christmas program in Pakistan.

So, it has been a busy year as God has used us in mighty ways to minister in our community, in our state, and on the other side of the world. It can be good to reflect on what God has done to help us spread His message. But we will stop there for now. Sometimes looking back isn’t such a good thing. Let me explain. Let’s focus for just a minute on how Jesus has changed us. Because in order for us to continue to grow as God’s family, we must focus on the right things.

Think about your life—the person you used to be. Many times, our past holds us back from a great relationship with Christ. What I want to do today is to get us to focus on what God has in store for us.

In Luke 17:28-33, Jesus is telling us about the coming of the kingdom of God. He is telling about the coming of the rapture and how we must look forward and not behind us. Look to what is to come rather than where we came from.

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Do you remember your life before you became a Christian? For some it may have not been that bad. We may have been what is considered to be a good person. We thought of others, we weren’t violent or abusive, just an overall good person. But then we accepted Christ as our Savior and it was then that we realized that being a good person will not get you into heaven. In fact, there’s only one thing that we can DO to get into heaven and that is to accept Jesus as our Savior.

For others, as you look back on your old way of life, you realize now how awful you were, how lost you were, how your life was really going nowhere. But then Jesus changed all that. So, Jesus is telling us not to linger on the past, the way we USED to be. Instead, focus on what is to come. Looking back and lingering on our old ways can cause us to yearn for parts of that old life and that’s dangerous.