Genesis 24

Then Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there!" (Gen 24:6)

Abraham has come near to the end of his life and Isaac, his son, has come of age, now at the point when it is appropriate for his wife to be sought. Yet with the all the prospects of Canaan, Abraham calls upon one of his servants to return to Abraham's father's house to select his future daughter-in-law. The servant responds asking, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?" To this we have the response above, "No way!"

What was so wrong about returning to Abraham's family? The answer is simple; that land was not his anymore. He had been given a divine inheritance. To go back meant to leave the promises of God. He was not willing to give up that which he knew was rightfully ordained to him and his descendants. You can almost hear the strong resolve and imagine the gritting teeth, "No way! We've come too far! We've left too much! We can't go back to the way it was before. God has changed us. He has promised to establish us! We will not forfeit that which the Lord has spoken over us. He will make your trip prosperous. And even if He doesn't, don't deny His promises; don't take my kid back there. We live here now."

In essence, "Our future is ahead of us, not behind us. We have a new direction. We mustn't turn from it."

What powerful words. What a focused leader. Passionate about God's call, he leads the others forward.

Where do you live? No, I'm not asking about your physical address. I want to know your spiritual address. Ephesians 2 declares that believers have a new residency, seated with Christ in heaven. And though we may still be reminded by the world that we do not yet fully experience that possession, like Abraham we have the promises of God to stand on.

In moments of temptation to "go back" to the world, remember the resolve of Abraham and the words of God's promises. Don't go back there. You've come too far! You've left too much! You can't go back to the way it was before. God has changed you. He has promised to establish you! Do not forfeit that which the Lord has spoken over you. You've come too far. Don't forfeit the promises of God. Your future is ahead of you. You have a new direction. Stand firm. Don't go back.