Don't Go Back That Way Again

Abraham asked his servant to return to his homeland to seek a wife for his son, Isaac.

But he warned, "Make sure that you do not take my son back there (Genesis 24:6 NIV).

Years ago, I had the strongest impression that I was not to return to Rhode Island, more specifically Providence. Newport was my birthplace and enjoyed all that east coast offered. I move to Florida to attend a bible school for two years then traveled to Europe and Africa on a hospital ship. A year later I returned to Florida. Once more, I was given direction to move out West to Portland, Oregon. We spent fourteen years in Portland before moving to New York.

Each step in this journey I've learned there are seasons and chapters that can't be relived no matter how good the experience. Other places like Rhode Island during my youth was proving destructive so the Lord call me to leave. Some twenty years later my wife and I visited Providence which had greatly changed and I realized that I too had changed. This was not my home.

The Lord warned Israel while still in the wilderness, "The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again." [italics mine] (Deuteronomy 17:16 NIV).

Sadly, some have gone back to Egypt to all the familiar and worldly places. Others emotionally pine to return, especially when things get very trying. We imagine a life without spiritual responsibilities and obligations while forgetting we were dead in our sins. We believe things were better back there then the present moment. Again, forgetting that each moment builds upon another glorious moment if we have Christ as the center of our existence (2 Corinthians 3:18).

If we truly follow Him - to places we rather not leave and to places we rather not go - we find the richest life He's forming in us deepens and matures. Abraham left his homeland and never went back. As a result, he was written in the pages of biblical history for centuries to come as the friend of God. We see things differently and respond according to what He declares to be true. Yes, there will be hard times littered with unexplainable pain and twisting agony of loss but still we advance and move forward.

Like Paul we are learning to say, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. " (Philippians 3:12 NIV).

When we press on we will say plenty of goodbyes but not forever. No matter the places we will travel in this life as believers we will have a glorious reunion around the throne.