Back To The Future

I was a big fan of the Back to the Future movies from the 1980s and early 1990s. The movies starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown. The first movie, which was my favorite, came out in July of 1985. Parts II and III came out in 1989 and 1990, respectively. They featured a time-traveling car (a DeLorean), a memorable quote from Doc Brown, “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads,” and my favorite quote from Marty McFly, “Eastwood, Clint Eastwood.”

The movies were so popular that Universal Studios Florida created a Back to the Future theme ride in 1991, which I rode on sometime in the early 1990s. The DeLorean sat near the entrance to the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios Florida for many years. The ride has long since been replaced with another ride, and the DeLorean was purchased by a car museum and relocated to Los Angeles.

Now the DeLorean was a pretty cool car in and of itself, but this particular DeLorean DMC-12 was a one-of-a-kind Space-Time Continuum DeLorean equipped with a flux capacitor. Ha!

Actually, I like a variety of movies, lighthearted comedies, action adventures, and well-written dramas that tell a story, but a lot of my favorite movies are those that make me think about the past. Movies such as, Back to the Future, Going on 30, Forever Young, The Family Man, and Groundhog Day, to name a few.

It’s movies like these that make us all ponder and think back on the events in our past. We think, wouldn’t it be interesting to go back in time and relive some of our most memorable moments with our family and friends? Or, what would it be like to go back and change something I did or didn’t do in the past? Or, what if I’d done this instead of that? Or, why did I choose to do certain things or not to do certain things? The list is endless.

In actuality, no amount of daydreaming about time travel, or escaping into the world of movies, can erase or change the events or choices we’ve made in the past; even events that weren’t in our control, but wish we could have changed in some way.

In reality, we all have a past, and very likely have some things we’d like to go back and change, but that’s not possible.

What is possible, however, is having a relationship with the only One who has the power to forgive our past, know us in the present, and that we can trust into the future, Jesus Christ.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

So while it’s good to remember the past, we shouldn’t spend time worrying about it. What’s done is done. Nor should we worry about the future. Don’t worry about what life will be like next year, or in 5 or 10 years.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

What we should do is take care of what we need to take care of today. Is there something God is prompting you to do? Then do it. Tomorrow may be too late. Don’t let the cares and distractions of this world keep you from being the person that He made you to be or in doing the things that He prepared in advance for you to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

And,

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7