No Turning Back

I remember singing often, while I was growing up—as we rode in the car, or at youth services,

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, no turning back.

--Attributed to Sadhu
Sundar Singh, India, early 20th c.

I could sing that very earnestly. What was there for me, after all, as an eight-year-old or a fourteen- or seventeen-year-old, to turn back to? Now, with advanced age and much more experience, I still ask, "What could there possibly be that is worth turning back to?"

The children of Israel, faced with the uncertainties involved in taking over the Promised Land from the giants who lived there, lamented to Moses and Aaron. "Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. 'If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!' they complained. 'Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?' Then they plotted among themselves, 'Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!' ” (Numbers 14:1-4)

Those who had gone ahead to spy out the land returned with proof that the land was fabulously productive. Two men of faith assured the people, "The countrymen there are powerful, but we are well able to overcome them!" Still, motivated by fear and a complaining spirit, the Israelites began to talk of stoning their leaders—until the Lord intervened and sent them back out into the wilderness to wander for forty years, one year for each day the spies had spent exploring the good land ahead of them.

We wouldn't deny our Savior, but we might cringe at the prospect of change. We might pull back when faced with challenge. What if Columbus had not said (in the words of American poet Joaquin Miller), "Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!" What if Winston Churchill had not given the commencement address that has inspired various valuable (mis)quotes? "Never give up! Never give up! Never, never, never!" What blessing and provision we miss, if we close our eyes to what is before and us and turn back to what is only safe and familiar!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/