(This is not an original sermon, it has been adapted for my style of delivery)
TITLE: A ROMANCE WITH YESTERDAY
SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 2:23 / NUMBERS 14:1-3 / PHILIPPIANS 3:13
Ever caught yourself longing for the good old days? Maybe it’s the Music - The Way People Dressed - How Life Just Seemed Simpler. We do it all the time — thinking back to childhood - past relationships - even a time we never actually lived in.
• It’s called Nostalgia, and it has a way of making the past seem better than it really was
Psychologists say nostalgia isn’t just about missing the past — it’s about finding comfort in it. Studies show that when we are stressed or uncertain about the future, we tend to look back on happy memories. Our brains filter out the bad parts and highlight the good, making the past feel like a Golden Era.
• It’s why old songs hit differently
• Why childhood snacks taste better even though they were probably just regular biscuits
• Why we remember an ex as “the one that got away” instead of “the one who never called or texted back”
While reminiscing can be comforting, it can also be misleading. The past wasn’t perfect — people had struggles, heartbreaks, and bad decisions just like we do now.
• But when we glorify it too much, we risk getting stuck
• Think about it - if you’re always comparing today to some idealized version of yesterday, you might miss out on what’s good in the present
• It’s like watching an old movie so many times that you forget to check out new ones
We find this playing out in our text this morning. Whereas the children of Israel left Egypt through a mighty deliverance, Egypt didn’t leave them. They were out of Egypt, but Egypt remained in their hearts. On their way to Canaan after their exodus from Egypt, they kept referring to Egypt and preferring to return there whenever they faced any challenge. It was as if they never appreciated the deliverance God gave them; they seemed not to value their freedom. Eventually, the majority of those who left Egypt never got to Canaan; they died in the wilderness because of their ROMANCE WITH THE PAST.
Notice the way the Israelites talked about Egypt as if it wasn’t in response to their cry that God sent Moses to go and deliver them from their taskmasters.
• Before Moses secured their release, they blamed Moses and Aaron for adding to their problem in the hands of the Egyptians
Hebrews were treated ruthlessly by the Egyptians. They were -
• Killed indiscriminately
• Criticized
• Ridiculed
• Beaten
• Emasculated
• Abused
• Mistreated
• Plundered and many other things were done to them
Just like we do today. Our minds only remind us of the good times, the good days and we ignore the struggles we went through in the Past. Then, all of a sudden, we want to return to Egypt. Return to what we know. Yes, my brothers and sisters – A ROMANCE WITH THE PAST.
There is no way someone can keep talking like the Israelites did and get to their destination. Just because you have encountered a problem, you are now regretting that you left where you were before. What a wrong attitude!
• You have to leave where you are currently to get to where you are going
• You cannot make progress in your life if you don’t leave and move forward
• There is a certain amount of the unknown going forward
• We can’t get too comfortable with the comfortable and familiar or we will never move forward
I have heard so many say over the course of my life that they “long for the good old days.” What good old days?
• When we had to drink from separate water fountains
• When we had to sit at the back of the bus
• When we could not vote
• When we had to sit in the hallway at the Colleges and Universities and not in the classroom
• When you had to struggle to make ends meet
• A ROMANCE WITH THE PAST
Being in the will of God doesn’t mean that you will not face challenges. Whenever someone doing the will of God faces challenges, they should not talk like the Israelites and try to go back to where they left. You must continue on your journey to Canaan and not contemplate returning to Egypt.
• The Will of God sometimes runs into trouble!
• But ultimately, it shall be established
In this passage, because of a temporary lack of food, which was not a big problem for God to solve, having earlier made the Red Sea part for them in addition to all the plagues He brought upon Egypt to release them, THEY SAID THEY PREFERRED TO HAVE DIED IN EGYPT. If this is what you ‘Preferred’ than why were you Crying out to God By Reason of Your Bondage?’
• This was the height of ingratitude to God
• Why would they prefer to die or suffer in Egypt rather than endure a temporary lack of food, which was not impossible for God to solve?
When the Children of Israel were led out of Egypt by Moses, through the power of God it was --
• All miracles
• All power
• All excitement
• It was joy unspeakable and full of glory
But just a little while later the honeymoon was over. The joy and happiness had turned to complaining and grumbling. They now had to believe God and trust Him for all of their provision, which HE was faithful to deliver, but it was a place of just enough, all of the variety they once were used to although they were in bondage was not available and they began to reflect on what it used to be like.
Even after God had FED THEM WITH MANNA, the children of Israel didn’t cease to long after Egypt.
• You can’t get to your Promised Land when all you think and talk about is your Egypt – your past
• A ROMANCE WITH YESTERDAY
On their way to the Promised Land, the children of Israel lamented over --
• Meat
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Leeks
• Garlic of Egypt
They missed all this while they were travelling in the wilderness. Should all this be more important to them than the great destiny they were going to fulfil? What was all this compared to the LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY that God was leading them to possess?
• I like that word ‘FLOWING’
• That means constant and consistent
• That means you don’t have to labor for it
I wonder this morning, ‘Are you ready to forgo or sacrifice the meat, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt to fulfil your destiny?’ Are ready to endure temporary uncomfortability for eternal gain? The Bible says in HEBREWS 12:2 “THAT JESUS FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND HAS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”
• That verse says we should look unto JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND THE FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
• We should emulate Him
• Jesus had to go through some uncomfortable things
• Jesus had to endure some uncomfortable and painful things to reach the goal for our Salvation
o He did not sit in the King’s Palace to gain our Salvation
o He did not lead the mighty Roman Army to gain our Salvation
o He went by way of the Brutal, Painful, Calvary’s Cross
These israelites could not endure temporary discomfort for the great gain ahead of them. No wonder God was angry with them and punished them for grumbling and craving for meat.
• They didn’t have to grumble for meat
• God knew what was good for them
• He could have given them meat graciously without destroying them if they had honored Him and asked properly
• God gave them meat but while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, His wrath was aroused against them
• He struck them with a very great plague
In the pursuit of your destiny, don’t look back. LOT’S WIFE LOOKED BACK AND BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT.
• Focus on where you are going
• Don’t dwell on the past even amid the challenges of the present
If at the slightest challenge you face, you always talk glowingly about where you left off, one day you may find yourself on your way back there or you will never arrive at your God-ordained destination. This was the case with the children of Israel. I am often amazed when I listen to Christians talk with folks in a crowd or gathering.
• Talk about being saved and what church we attend like it hurts us
• But when the conversation shifts to what we used to do – Club – Drink – Party we reminisce about it with such joy
• A ROMANCE WITH YESTERDAY
God’s plans for you are for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope. JEREMIAH 29:11 “FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAITH THE LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE, AN NOT OF EVIL TO GIVE YOU AN EXPECTED END.” But you must be careful that you don’t destroy yourself by the negative words you speak
• Don’t speak of DEATH - PROBLEMS – DIFFICULTIES
• Speak of the Goodness of God to you
• Psalm 91:2 “I WILL SAY OF THE LORD, ‘HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS; MY GOD, IN HIM I WILL TRUST’”
• Speak what you desire – the solution, not the problem
• ROMANS 4:17 “….CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE”
o I can’t see it yet – but thank you for my Victory
o I can’t see it yet – but thank you for my Healing
o I can’t see it yet – but thank you for my Promotion
o I can’t see it yet - but thank you for my Increase
God does not want you to return to Egypt. He didn’t want the Israelites to. You ever wonder why the israelites went the long way around to reach the promised land instead of going straight to Palestine. EXODUS 13:17-18 says, “THEN IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET THE PEOPLE GO, THAT GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM BY WAY OF THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEAR; FOR GOD SAID, ‘LEST PERHAPS THE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS WHEN THEY SEE WAR, AND RETURN TO EGYPT.’ SO GOD LED THE PEOPLE AROUND BY WAY OF THE WILDERNESS OF THE RED SEA. AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT UP IN ORDERLY RANKS OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT”
• Note the phrase -- “LEST PERHAPS THE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS WHEN THEY SEE WAR, AND RETURN TO EGYPT”
• Sometimes God takes you the long route to your destiny because He knows you can’t handle some struggles right now
• Because if you do you will begin to have A ROMANCE WITH YESTERDAY
o It was better before I gave my life to Christ
o It was better before I started going to Church
o It was better before I committed to Tithing
++++It is within the wilderness that we struggle wrestling with -
• Our Emotions
• Our Feelings
• Our Desires
• Our Lust
• And with God
If we yield to our Emotions – Feelings – Desires - Lust we go back to sin and bondage or Egypt, but if we yield to God then we come into the promise He has for us. I CORINTHIANS 2:9 says “BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”
Don’t try to return to Egypt.
• Don’t go back to your abandoned, sinful habits
• Don’t return to your bad and sinful ways
• Don’t give in to temporary difficulties
• Paul told Timothy in II TIMOTHY 2:3 “ENDURE HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST”
You may suffer adversity in your journey to your Promised Land but don’t contemplate going back to Egypt. Jesus said in ST. LUKE 9:62 “NO ONE, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOW, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
• Have faith in God to overcome all challenges you face
• Trust God to give you victory
• Don’t return to Egypt
• Don’t return to your land of bondage
We must understand once God has delivered you out of your Egypt by His Spirit, we must be careful not to return regardless of how bad it may seem. We must learn to be like PAUL and “FORGET THOSE THINGS THAT ARE BEHIND AND PRESS TOWARD THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE US.”
Let me hurry to my close, I have been up long enough. Many of us want to experience the power of the resurrection right on the cross but they haven’t died yet. Jesus was not resurrected from the Grave until after He died. While they are faced with the process of dying of the --
• Flesh
• Thoughts
• Ways
Our mind goes back to Egypt, and we say this cross hurts, I didn’t expect this, I remember when I didn’t use to feel this way. They begin thinking thoughts like I thought this would be a joyful experience. Then they complain --
• Pastor, I don’t understand why I have to be the one that gives up everything
• I don’t understand why I have to suffer
• I don’t understand why I can’t have what I use to have
• I can’t understand why it has to be like this
--Lord I wish I could go back to the way it used to be
--I want to go back to Egypt
--Be careful because sometimes God allows us to have exactly what we’ve been praying for!
--God sometimes answers prayers of the flesh, this is what is called His PERMISSIVE WILL
--However, I guarantee you that you won’t like the results
--Don’t Look Back
--Don’t Give Up
--Don’t Throw in the Towel
--PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHIRST JESUS
--FORGET THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACH FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE
--End and Divorce your ROMANCE WITH YESTERDAY
--God has more in store for you today
