Back To The Future

I was a big fan of the “Back to the Future” movies of the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They starred Michael J Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as “Doc” Brown. My favorite was the original one which came out in July of 1985. Part II came out in 1989; Part III followed in 1990.

The three movies were so popular that Universal Studios Florida created a “Back to the Future” themed ride in 1991. I got to ride it sometime in the early 1990’s! It’s since been replaced with another ride, and the DeLorean that they used in all three of the “Back to the Future” movies is now in a car museum in Los Angeles. Prior to going to the car museum it was prominently displayed next to the “Back to the Future” ride at Universal Studios Florida.

Now the DeLorean was a pretty cool car in and of itself but this particular Delorean DMC-12 was a one-of-kind Space Time Continuum DeLorean equipped with a Flux Capacitor! Ha!

What is it about time travel movies that so many of us find fascinating?

Actually I think the subject of time is interesting to a lot of people.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

To me, a good movie should be fascinating, heart warming, tell a good story, and include some pleasant surprises. My movie preferences are light hearted comedies, action adventures, and movies that make me think about both the past and the future. Some of my favorite movies in the latter genre are, “13 Going on 30,” “Forever Young,” “The Family Man,” and “Groundhog Day.”

Movies like these make us ponder and think back about the events in our past.

We ask ourselves,

“Wouldn’t it be wild to be able to go back in time and relive some of our most memorable moments with our family and friends?”

But inevitably we would then ask ourselves,

“How cool would it be 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?

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

In reality, we all have a past and very likely have some things we would like to go back and change, if we only could.

In reality, I believe our only hope lies in having a relationship with the only One who has the power to both have forgiven our past and to know our 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 don’t worry about the future.

Don’t worry about what your life, or what your children and grandchildren’s life, will be like next year, or in 5 or 10 years.

Pray about everything, don’t worry about anything, and trust in God.

“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

And,

“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

Take care of what you need to take care of today. Is there something God is prompting you to do? Then do it. Tomorrow may be too late. Set your focus on God today and don’t be persuaded or distracted by the cares of this world.

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12