I was running up the hill as fast as I could sure that the rattle snake was about to sink it’s fangs into my ankle. My life flashed before my eyes. If this snake had a mission it was to take me down! Being a kid, I was frightened at the possible outcome of this hot pursuit.

A few minutes earlier my friend and I were at my house running around and exploring the big backyard. There was no green grass on the backyard slope, only tall brown weeds. As we were walking around I notice something move. The sound of a rattle snake emanated from the earth and then I saw it. The rattle snake was literally right at my feet and did not think, I just began booking it up the big hill as fast as I could. Like a crook running from the cops I jetted up the hill and did not even entertain the idea of looking back.

Seriously, the whole time I was running away from this rattle snake, I pictured him slithering quickly behind me, attempting to bite the back of my leg! When my friend and I were all the way up the hill and safely away from this evil snake, we were just thankful to be alive (Yes, we were a bit dramatic). Looking back at this instance, I am so glad that I didn’t look back but kept pushing forward out of harms way.

There are many things in this world that attempt to sink their teeth into our spiritual lives. There are many temptations and trials that can poison any progress and growth that we’ve had. The key is not to run away and be paranoid when we face life, the key is to continually move forward, keeping our eyes upon the Lord. If we stop and mosey around for too long, then complacency is a real possibility.

As believers we are sojourners and pilgrims on this earth. We are not meant to settle down, we are meant to be set-apart for the Lord and set out to herald the message of hope that we’ve responded to. Look up and then move forward. Don’t look back and let the past dictate your present. God has you where you are now to have an eternal impact. Believe it.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14