All of us have had past victories. We have accomplishments that we’re proud of, and given the chance to relive those moments, we definitely would. Maybe it’s something athletic that you accomplished as a high school or college stand out. Maybe it’s an academic award or degree. Maybe it’s a spiritual high that you reached after a conquered trial or special mission effort. Whatever it is, we all have them: something that we regard from our past as a glory day. A day that we were on top of the world.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with thinking about the past, is there? David, as he faced the giant Goliath, used his past (shepherding skills) to propel him to a present victory. Paul used his past to motivate him to be better, more gracious and expedient in spreading the truth. Looking to the past as a means to do more today is a noble quality, but living in the past–that’s entirely different.
In Judges 7 and 8 we read about Gideon, and the victory that God granted to him and the 300 that would go to battle with him. At the end of the story, picking up in Judges 8:24, Gideon requests that a portion of the spoils be given to him. He simply requests gold earrings, but he gets enough to produce 1700 shekels worth. With it, Gideon makes an ephod, and sets it up in the city as a reminder of the wonderful things that had been accomplished.
Literally the next sentence shows us the problem: And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. Israel used something great that had happened and let it consume them like a god.
It seems preposterous, but it happens within the church today, doesn’t it? Former programs or efforts that worked – we cling to those in hopes that it somehow means we’re still faithful. Still growing. On an individual level, we use the faithfulness we once experienced to excuse our apathy and mediocrity. It’s terrible! It’s playing the harlot! And we have to stop!
I am as guilty as the next person. In both physical things and spiritual things, I am tempted to look back on how great something was, instead of pushing myself to make something great now. The same God of our yesterdays is the God of our present, which means we ought to be working with the same zeal and same energy, and really, if we’re applying the Hebrews 5:12 principle, we ought to be doing more for the Lord now than we ever did in the “glory days”.
Don’t let your past victories become a present hinderance. Use those moments of spiritual clarity to encourage you to soar to greater heights for our God today.
