Never Retreat!

As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests , but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 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 9:57-62

During the revolutionary war, Washington came with his army Brandywine Creek. After they had crossed the bridge spanning the stream, one of the soldiers asked him, "General, shall we burn the bridge or leave it? After all, the enemy might drive us back, and then we would need it to make good our retreat!" Washington gave a memorable reply: "Burn the bridge! It is victory or death!"
 
Bridges of compromise must ever be burned behind us so that we leave no way back into the world. We must make a complete break with our old sinful life. The furrows of our testimony will only be straight as we keep our eyes on Jesus. Follow Him no matter what the cost, Christian. Never look back! Never retreat!
 
We know not where the path may lead,
As yet by us untrod:
We "look not back" but sweetly trust
The providence of God!
 
 
By Henry G. Bosch (1914-1995) from "Bread for Each Day"

Andrew

I want to post in memoriam a friend of mine. I found out today, that he died yesterday in his sleep at the age of 28. He had significant emotional and health issues, and struggled much in life to find peace, but I believe that he is in God's wonderful, and incomprehensible presence now, because he had a child-like faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Andrew ("Drew") was a fun guy, had an awesome laugh, and a great, contagious smile! He loved people, and wanted to hang out often. In the days leading up to his death, he seemed to be showing increasing interest in being right with and living for God. He even asked for help in starting a Bible Study at the group home where he lived. It is as if the LORD was drawing him ever nearer in his heart, in the days before seeing Him face-to-face.

In the end, that is really all that matters: being right with God. All of us have sinned against the LORD. It is only through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, that reconciliation with our Creator is possible. Where will you go when you die? It's going to happen sooner or later. My prayer is that you will receive and follow Jesus, and end up in the endless Paradise of Heaven!

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. -- Jesus (John 14:6)