A couple of my dreams last night had similar themes. The theme? No returns.

Now when I was a child, no returns meant no tag backs, or if you have chosen something you do not get another choice or another opportunity. Sometime later in life I had moved to Vermont and they wanted to institute a returnable law for bottles and cans. Small grocery stores like ours were inundated by the influx of cans and bottles from everywhere. One day a dump truck pulled up with a “full load”. So “no returns” was a cry that was heard frequently. And as a consumer I became aware of policy, when a store would not take back merchandise. (Again, another law came into play to protect the consumer from themselves…)

In my dream the person wanted to change something, even exchange it, but they were not allowed. The person pointed to the sign that said “no return” and I watched a dejected person leave the room.

For some reason, this is the third time I have visited this topic in as many weeks. My friend Randall Worley would say “ask yourself why you need to hear it again”.

In the book of Job 10:20-22 (Bold mine), “Would He not let my few days alone? Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer Before I go– and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow, The land of utter gloom as darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness.” His “no return” was seeking a place of respite. He is looking to death and he sees no other way out.

How many of us are face with the futility of an existence with knowledge that “God could change it if He wanted to” when the truth in keeping with the new covenant and “all authority” are that you could change “it” if you wanted to? I would emulate the cry of Joshua in Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?

Like the lepers who saw the city dying, they realized they “could not go back”.

And there is a greater “no return” to be found in this scripture (Bold mine). Isaiah 55:10-12 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.…

We ought be burdened with promise. His promise. 2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Can a chicken become an egg? The Bible tells us we have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!) not longer to “return” to a previous existence.

Possession, Promise, Participant-No Turning Back

Written by Lee Johndrow

Lee is the Senior Leader of Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Keene, NH

He is the father of five wonderful children. Married for over 26 years to his wife Tina. Loving life with family, friends, faith, fun and food!