Burn The Ships

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

It is said that Captain Hernán Cortés ordered all of his ships to be burned as he landed in Veracruz. Why? So that there would be no temptation to move back to their former lives. He was committed to a new life, and he expected those with him to be as well. The question is, do we burn the ships of our past so that we can be completely dedicated to the future the Lord has for us?

A New Life

2 Corinthians 5:17 promises us… (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new… What an amazing promise! If we have the promise of being a new creation, why do we flounder in the old? We dabble in the old life because we have not fully committed to the new!

A Future Of Hope

Jeremiah 29:11 assures us… (11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope… The Lord does not want us to be caught up in past sin, past failures, He promises us a life of peace and not evil, and offers us true hope. But, we cannot achieve that hope while clinging to the comforts of our old ways.

Break Free

We are given a perfect picture of leaving the old life behind in Ephesians 4:17–24… (17) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

(20) But you have not so learned Christ, (21) if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (23) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Closing Thoughts:

It takes true commitment to live a life completely dedicated to the Lord, it starts with burning the ships of our past. It should be easy to burn those ships, they caused nothing but pain and heartache, but, our memories are sometimes a lot greater than reality. If you find yourself struggling between this world and His, cut ties where you need to. Our future in Christ is so much better than the futility of the past. Step forward into the marvelous new life and never look back!

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.