WHEN one is in a thoughtful tone,
Enjoying sweet communion,
Some trifle, o’er our pathway thrown,
Will often blend in union.
Not long ago, I heard a child
Say to another, “Mind you,”
In playful language, while she smil’d, —
“You must not look behind you.”
This simple word of childish glee
And sisterly affection,
A train of thought awoke in me,
And led to wise reflection.
I Lot remember’d, and the word, —
“Lest judgment here should find thee,
For life escape; come, haste, begird,
And do not look behind thee.”
Lot’s wife, we know, was turn’d to salt,
Regarding not the warning;
And many, now, are fain to halt,
The fear of judgment scorning.
Oh, ye whose lamps no oil contain,
‘Tis Satan’s aim to blind you;
Look to the LAMB who once was slain,
O haste! look not behind you.
Some put their hand unto the plough,
Professing Christ to follow,
But are not ready, even now,
Their faith is false and hollow;
They cling to kin and nature’s home,
The word has power to bind them;
They’re not prepar’d with Christ to roam,
They’ve turn’d and look’d behind them.
That dear, devoted, earnest Paul,
The true, unwearied, servant,
Accounted Christ his all in all,
And e’er was fresh and fervent.
One thing he did, — his back he turn’d
On all that once could bind him,
And, reaching forth, for Christ he yearn’d,
Forgetting things behind him.
May we our Lord’s soul-stirring word
Have on our hearts engraven;
Press on, as for its nest the bird,
Or ship unto its haven.
May He our being all control,
In Love’s strong fetters bind us;
That we may stretch toward the goal,
And never look behind us.
T.
Genesis 19:15-17,2G; Luke 17:28-33; Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 9:59-62; Philippians 3:13, 14.