A September to Remember…. Lot’s Wife

    We have taken time this month to remember our Creator (Ecclesiastes 12) and all He has done for us, so that we can speak sincere words of praise, admiration, and thanksgiving when we pray to God the Father, talk to others about His greatness, and develop our spiritual understanding. We have also remembered that we were once “Gentiles” – far from God, aliens, strangers, having no hope and without God in the world – but now in Christ Jesus we have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13); we meditate on this so that we live in appreciation for God’s love, His gift of grace, and His mercy.

    Now, this week, let’s take time to remember Lot’s wife. Jesus, in teaching about His return, told His listeners to be ready for it  - not in the sense of stop all work and wait (as some in Thessalonica thought, see 1 and 2 Thessalonians), but to recognize it when it happens, rejoice in it, and not worry about what is being left behind.

“Set your mind on things above and not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2 NKJV)

    Lot’s wife (Genesis 19, specifically verse 26) was on a path of deliverance from Sodom and Gomorrah, until she turned back to look at the cities being destroyed by God. Was she thinking about her daughters and sons-in-law who laughed at Lot’s warning the night before and remained in the city (Genesis 19:12-14)? Was she thinking of the house she left behind and her belongings? Did she regret leaving behind the familiar for the unknown of the path that she, her husband, and their daughters were now traveling, even though that familiar had been vile and full of corruption?

    We don’t know her motive for looking back, but God knowing her heart turned her into pillar of salt. Lot’s wife looked back at her past instead of to her future; she chose to fix her eyes on destruction instead of God’s deliverance.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 NKJV)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV)

    Our Creator loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us from our sins, so we could hear the gospel, recognize our sins and turn from them, so we could be baptized into Christ’s body – the church – and be called children of God, an adoption that is rife with benefits; benefits that help us now and grant us hope for eternal life (Psalm 68:19, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 John 3:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Trust Him. Let your love for Him be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Cling to God and His way.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 NKJV)

    Take time to read and reread the following passages today and every day this week, if the Lord wills: Ephesians 4:17-24, Colossians 3:1-4:6, and Psalm 73

    Do not let what was familiar hinder your faithfulness. Don’t let your unbelieving family halt your progress – keep going, keep growing stronger in knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding; you may by your quiet, consistent example win members of your family to Christ (consider 1 Peter 3:1-4). If you stop your progress and turn to look back, you become stuck – no longer advancing yourself, and no longer able to help those who so desperately need the truth – you’ve become a pillar of salt that has lost its beneficial nature/its flavor (Matthew 5:13).    

    Remember Lot’s wife (and her demise) and learn to see sin for what it is: a path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Taste and see that God and His ways are worth our efforts and our sacrifices. If you are walking on the narrow path that is delivering you from sin, keep looking forward, toward God. Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (see James 4:7-8a, 10). Don’t look back with longing at the life you once lived, look to God and rejoice that He granted you time and opportunity for deliverance from your life in sin! Forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead; press toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)!    

“…knowing you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven …do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:34b-39 NKJV)  

You can do it! So can I!!