By Dr. Rebekah McCloud

The UCF campus is home to scores of Sandhill cranes. These are big brown birds that are 3-5 feet tall and weight 6-15 pounds. The first few times I saw them walking, I was afraid. One day I was going back to my office after a meeting. It had rained so I was gingerly dodging the puddles that dotted the walkway. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted four of the bird. They were coming my way. It looked like we were on an intersect path. Determined that would not happen, I had two choices: speed up or slow down.

I decided to speed up. I began to power walk at a nice clip. Feeling good about my progression, I turned to look behind me to see how much distance I had put between me and the birds. Splat and splash! While I was looking back, the toe of my shoe hit an uneven crack in the sidewalk and I fell face down into a puddle. Ouch!

It was not a pretty sight. The birds indeed intersected my path. They scared the Beetlejuice out of me; so much so, that when they stepped on me, I couldn’t even holler. When I finally got up and got to my office—muddy, bloody and wet—I asked myself, “Becky, why did you look back?”

At the first sign of danger, I had called on the Lord for his strength and his protection. I know God is always with me. I know this.

• Psalm 46:1 says he, “is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in a time of trouble.” I know this, too.
• Hebrews 12:2 says he is, “the author and finisher of our perfecter of our faith.” I also know this; I have faith and I believe in God and his power. But I cannot tell you why I looked back.

I’m reminded of Lot’s wife. Genesis 19:26 tells how she had safely escaped the city, but looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. If you remember the story, you know Abraham had pleaded with God on behalf of the people. Mercifully, God allowed Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family to escape. They were chosen and told not to look back.

There are a number of commentaries that discuss why Lot’s wife turned around. Some say she turned to get a last look at what she was leaving and others say she turned to look for her daughter. No matter the reason, she was chosen, so she should not have looked back.

The word chosen means “one who is the object of choice or of divine favor: an elect person.” There are 276 instances of the word chosen in the Bible.

• Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “God has chosen you from the beginning of salvation.”
• John 15:16 in part says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”
• And, Matthew 22:14 says, “for many are called, but few are chosen.”

God’s chosen people should always keep their eyes on Jesus. Don’t look to the left or look to the right or look behind. The song says, “Keep your eyes and Jesus and you’ll be just fine.”

I want to always be among God’s chosen. Amen. My prayer is that I be found worthy of his choice and fit for his services. Luke 9:62 reminds us that, “no one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service.”

I read somewhere that God does not choose those who are fit, but outfits those whom he chooses.” Lord, thank you for choosing and outfitting me. I remember Lot’s wife and I won’t turn back nor will I look back. I’ll keep my eyes steady on you. Amen.