Focus on the Future

When I was a teen, I had a friend who was in a wheelchair. He was a few years older than me. I had known him for a couple of years when I decided to ask him “what happened? Why are you in a wheelchair?” He chuckled as he answered.

It seems he was driving through town one day, when he “saw a pretty girl on the sidewalk”. He turned and stared at her. Next thing he knew, he slammed into a stopped car in front of him.

I don’t remember his exact injuries, but in that split second, his life changed drastically, forever. He became completely paralyzed from the waist down. I think most of us are guilty of taking our eyes off the road to look at something. I certainly am. But for him, his life would never be the same again.

A few years back I gave the children’s story at church. I brought props. I had borrowed a big truck side mirror, and I had a rearview mirror. A couple of guys from church held those props in place as I took my seat in front of the congregation. I had my back to them with a mic in my hand. I began "Life is much like driving a car….”

Mirrors are important; they serve many purposes. In a car, they allow us to see what is going on behind us and alert us to approaching vehicles. If we want to change lanes, they warn us if there are cars next to us. Aside from your eyes, mirrors are the most important visual aid you have when you are behind the wheel. They help you determine the distance between your car and the one behind you.

There are several types of automobile mirrors: rearview mirrors, side mirrors, mirrors needed when towing, and wide-angle mirrors. Each type of mirror serves a specific purpose.

According to driving dot ca, rearview mirrors became somewhat common by the mid-1930s, side mirrors would take another decade. As just a fun sidenote, there is a story that some police objected to cars with mirrors since they would allow motorists to see officers coming up behind them. Whether that is true is up for grabs, but in the 1920s an inventor named Elmer Berger sold an aftermarket auto mirror that he called the “Cop-Spotter.”

Now, although mirrors are very important, how safe would it be to only look in your mirror as you drove down the road? What if you never looked ahead of you, but only glanced between the rearview mirror and the side mirrors?

I think it’s safe to say, you would not be driving down the road for very long. You might get lucky and be able to drive for a minute, but sooner than later, you would crash your car.

I know people that live their lives this way; constantly looking back. It’s not safe; it’s not healthy.

I don’t know if it’s a gift or a curse, but I rarely look back. What is done is done. If you have wronged someone, seek forgiveness. If you can fix it; or make it better, then by all means do that. Otherwise, give it to God and move on. Today has enough worry of its own.

Matthew 6:34 tells us "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." NIV

Perhaps that should also include ‘yesterday’. Therefore, do not worry about yesterday or tomorrow, focus on today.

I think most of the stuff people worry about and stress about, cannot be changed by the worry. In fact, what can be changed by simply worrying? Nothing.

Life is like driving a car. It is important to glance back occasionally. It is important to use those memory-mirrors from the past to realign from time to time. It is important to remember and reminisce, but one should never live their life always looking back.

If we only look back at the bad, if we refuse to give up some hurt or injustice, very soon we will lose all perspective on the people that love us now. We will not be living in the moment; and this moment, this one right here and right now, is all we have.

Friend, if you spend your life only looking back, you cannot live today in the fullness that God intends for your life. If we only look back, we will lose sight of Jesus and His love for us.

If we are constantly looking back, we could miss a turn. We could drift out of our lane, causing harm to ourselves and others. We must keep our focus ahead of us. And that focus should be the soon return of our friend, brother and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Life is like driving a car, and there are 9 little words engraved on the glass on most car side mirrors that we should also take to heart:

“Warning! Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”

The same can be said for the second coming of Jesus. It is much closer than many believe. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He loves you! And He is coming soon!

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3 NIV

by Jeanette Stark – Thursday, November 2, 2023