Burning Bridges

What does the expression, “Burn your bridges” mean?

One definition is, “When you burn a bridge you can't cross it again. To burn a bridge means to be completely done with something.” 

A preacher once said, “You need to burn your bridges.” He was speaking about destroying everything that could bring us back to sin and death.

When we first come to God, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:37-38).

It has been said, “What is repentance? It is a change of mind, that leads to a change of heart, that leads to a change in actions. This change involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.”

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon includes this in definition of “repent”: “…heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins…”

It is feeling deeply sorry for our sins, truly hating sin and wanting to please God with our whole heart.

It is getting rid of everything that has to do with that sin, so it won’t be easy to begin it again. 

It all needs to be “burned up” so that we are truly done forever with it.

The Bible says, 

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." - Galatians 5:9 KJV

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon includes in its definition of leaven:

"It is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing:" 

Leaven is another word for yeast that multiplies in dough until it has taken over the dough.

We need to get rid of the smallest things in our life that have to do with sin that can multiply and take over again.

All must be eliminated. 

To please God, we need to leave sin behind, “burning our bridges,” with no regrets and no ways of returning to it.