Be My Follower—What Is Needed? Luke 9:62

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Luke 9:62

Jesus said:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

With this statement, Jesus set a clear standard for the unwavering devotion required of those who would follow Him. The imagery of a plowman is intentional and vivid. In ancient agriculture, to plow a straight furrow, the worker had to keep his eyes fixed forward. If he looked back, the plow would veer off course, disrupting the entire field. Jesus applies this principle to discipleship: following Him demands forward-focused faithfulness, not nostalgic glances at the past.

The Danger of Looking Back

To follow Jesus means a decisive break with our old way of life. Yet when difficulties arise, the temptation to “look back” often intensifies. The apostle Paul addressed this tendency when he wrote:

“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal.” (Philippians 3:13–14)

Paul had given up status, comfort, and power in the Jewish world to become a follower of Christ (Philippians 3:7–8). His focus was not on what he had left behind, but on what lay ahead—resurrection and eternal reward. Christians are called to this same mindset: to press forward with determination, not to linger mentally in the past.

Jesus’ words also recall the example of Lot’s wife, who “looked back” at Sodom and became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26; cf. Luke 17:32). Her backward glance signified a divided heart—a longing for what God had condemned. This warning applies today: if our heart remains entangled with the world’s values, comforts, or sins, our discipleship is compromised.

The Israelites’ Nostalgia and Its Consequences

The nation of Israel also exemplifies the danger of longing for the past. After being delivered from slavery in Egypt, they quickly began to complain during their wilderness journey:

“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11:5–6)

Their memory of Egypt was distorted. They forgot their brutal bondage (Exodus 1:11–14) and exaggerated the pleasures they had once enjoyed. This selective memory led to discontent, rebellion, and ultimately, God’s judgment.

In the same way, Christians today must guard against idealizing their life before knowing Christ. The “good old days” are often remembered through a lens that filters out the spiritual emptiness, sin, and alienation from God that once defined that life. To long for what Christ saved us from is to show ingratitude for grace and to risk spiritual ruin (Hebrews 10:38–39).

The Blessing of Present Faithfulness

Instead of looking backward, Jesus calls His followers to fix their eyes forward—on the goal of the Kingdom and the promises of eternal life. Paul encouraged believers to focus on “the things that are unseen,” saying:

“Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

This perspective equips Christians to endure hardship, not by denying the cost of discipleship, but by treasuring the reward. The sacrifices made now are not in vain. The losses incurred for Christ’s sake are investments in a coming inheritance (Matthew 19:29).

Even amid trials, present blessings abound: the peace of reconciliation with God (Romans 5:1), the support of the Christian congregation (Hebrews 10:24–25), the indwelling wisdom of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and the hope of resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). When we focus on these truths, the lure of the past loses its grip.

The Necessity of Undivided Commitment

Jesus’ call to follow Him is not partial or casual—it is total. He said plainly:

“If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

This involves renouncing self-centered desires, enduring hardship, and aligning one’s entire life with God’s will. Looking back or holding on to past attachments is incompatible with such a calling.

Just as a plowman’s success depends on keeping his gaze fixed forward, so too does the Christian’s spiritual progress. Looking back endangers our direction, slows our pace, and clouds our loyalty. Jesus expects His followers to stay the course with perseverance, knowing that He who began a good work will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Conclusion

To be “fit for the kingdom of God,” a follower of Jesus must maintain unwavering focus, not allowing the past to pull him away from present obedience or future hope. This does not mean denying that the past existed, but refusing to be dominated by it. The path of discipleship is a forward journey—marked by faith, endurance, and hope.

Jesus calls each of us to put our hand to the plow and not look back. Let us answer that call with full hearts, remembering that the reward far outweighs the cost (Romans 8:18), and that the One we follow is faithful to lead us home.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).