Luke (NIV) 9:62: Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (This was the last verse of a passage from Luke 9:57-62, concerning , The Cost of Following Jesus).

Why? Because it is only when you are looking straight ahead that you can plow a straight row.

What is the purpose of plowing? To break up hard soil and remove anything (such as roots or rocks, etc.) that would prevent the successful planting of seeds. In other words preparing the ground for seeds to be sown and grow. Matthew 13:1-23.

If you are plowing while looking behind you, you have no idea where the plow is going. When you finally return your focus on what you are doing, you discover rows all over the place. These rows are not conducive to sowing/planting seeds, covering them up, watering them, tending the plants and harvesting.

It does not matter why you were looking back: whether it be a terrible upbringing, loss of a loved one, rejection, betrayal, tradition, misguided sense of responsibility, disappointments in life, etc. or a combination of or all of the above. Once you see your error and its result, repent and refocus on the One that makes things grow, (1 Corinthians 3:5-9), allowing Holy Spirit to show you how to correct those crooked rows. It may require starting again (raking, regrading and plowing).

Understand that there is a difference between a having a testimony and living in the past. Ruth looked forward. Ruth1:16 (Read all of Ruth). Lot’s wife looked back. Genesis 19:26 (Read all of Genesis 19)

There is a Mother Goose Rhyme: “There was a crooked man, And he walked a crooked mile. He found a crooked sixpence (coin) Upon a crooked stile (road). He bought a crooked cat, Which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house.”

Why settle for something that is crooked and twisted and perverted (our lives before Christ), longing for it, every chance we get; tempted to go back whenever anything goes wrong. Numbers 14:2-4; Hebrews 3:7-19.

Let us choose the Highway of Holiness instead (a straight path). Isaiah 35:8-10: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lions will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

Isaiah 43:1-13; Philippians 3:7-16