Do Not Look Back

But because in all the letters I have sent you, you have asked me for instructions to nourish your life and faith, it has come about that by writing to you so often I have now used up everything I have to say of that kind, and I can write you nothing new that does not repeat what I wrote before. And in truth, by the goodness of God, you no longer need urging, since you have made your faith complete at the very start of your holy life, and you show a devoted love in Christ. One thing, however, I do urge on you. Do not go back to the things you have already left behind; do not long again for the things you have already scorned; and having put your hand to the plow, do not look back and retrace your steps. For if you fall into this fault, your furrow will certainly lose its straightness, and the farmer will not receive his proper reward. Nor does he receive even part of the reward if he has failed in part. For just as we must flee from sin to righteousness, so whoever has entered on the practice of righteousness must beware of laying himself open to sin. For it is written that “his righteousness will not profit the righteous man on the day he goes astray.” [a]

For this, then, we must take our stand, and for this we must labor: that we who have escaped from sins do not lose the rewards prepared for us. For the enemy stands ready against us, to strike at once the one who has been stripped of the shield of faith. So our shield must not be thrown aside, or our side will be exposed to attack; and our sword must not be put away, or the enemy will begin to lose all fear. And we know that if he sees a man fully armed, he will retreat. Nor are we unaware that it is a hard and difficult thing to fight every day against the flesh and the world. But if you think about eternity, and if you consider the kingdom of heaven, which the Lord will surely deign to give us even though we are sinners, what suffering, I ask, is great enough for us to merit such things? Besides, our struggle in this world lasts only a short time; for even if death does not overtake us soon, old age will come. The years flow on and time slips by, while, as I hope, the Lord Jesus will soon call us to himself, as being dear to his heart.