Williams Lake's friendly, social & entertaining online news source!

Burning your bridges behind you

In the early 12th century there reigned a great warrior who went under the title of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan was known for his fierce fighting abilities and his passion to want to conquer the then known world.

A story is told about one of Genghis Khan’s expeditions when he and his men arrived by ships to take the people of the land. Genghis Khan was aware that the enemy was greater than his army and so unbeknownst to them, Genghis Khan sent a few of his men back to the ships with orders to set them ablaze. As Genghis Khan rallied his men he explained that either they were going to conquer this land and people or they would surely die upon its shores because for them, retreat was no longer an option. As the soldiers turned to see the smoke of the burning ships behind them, they realized that their only hope for survival was to win---and win they did.

The apostle Paul stated in Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In this portion of Philippians, Paul is talking about perfecting ourselves. He lists his many attainments but then goes on to explain that if we desire to perfect ourselves in Christ, we cannot rest on our past accomplishments but look to our future.

This principle also applies to our past wounds, hurts, and addictions. While we do not deny our past, indeed we must deal with those negative aspects of our past that have shaped us lest they be carried into our future, there comes a time in our lives, that in order to move ahead, we need to stop looking behind. In other words, it is time to burn your bridges behind you.

A bridge is a structure used to allow passage between two areas of land separated by some geological factor such as a ravine or water. Aside from being a literal structure a bridge can also be a passage taken by the soul who is searching for a way to leave the world and its ways and cross over into the realm of a new life. As such a bridge is important and necessary to a changed lifestyle.

However, a bridge can hinder progress when a person does not move forward but remains close by with the attitude that ‘I can always return if I want to’. We cannot commit ourselves to our future purpose if, in the back of our minds, we reserve an avenue of retreat. The children of God, in their escape from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on a ‘bridge’ of dry land. Even though God closed the physical avenue of return, mentally and emotionally they continued to wish themselves back in Egypt every time things did not go well. Because of their attitude and because they never really burned those bridges behind them, they never did reach the Promised Land.

We each of us have a Promised Land that we are striving to reach. In the process of reaching and striving for that goal, some of us may need to burn some bridges behind us and then move on to claim our promise.

Pastor T. Zotzman
The Voice of Pentecost Church
#37-4th Avenue South
Williams Lake, B.C.(250) 392-1191