No matter our age our lives our made up of a past, present, and future. Often times we allow our past to interfere with our present which in turns hinders our future. At some point in our time span we “look back” and either regret something we did and start with the should haves, could haves, and would haves, or we recall a moment that brings a smile to our face and maybe even a tear. The definition of past is to be gone by in time no longer existing or a time or a period of time before the moment of speaking. Our past should be used for teaching us lessons, giving us experiences, and helping us to grow. However, it is often just the opposite, we learn nothing, it gives us excuses, and it stunts our growth.
In Genesis 19: 15-26 Genesis 19:15-26 New International Version (NIV)
15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”
18 But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,[a] please! 19 Your[b] servant has found favor in your[c] eyes, and you[d] have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”
21 He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.[e])
23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. In the book of Luke 17:29-33New International Version (NIV), we are reminded of what took place.
29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.
Lot’s wife looked back. She took her eyes off the path of the Lord. She looked back to the world instead of forward to God’s plan for her life.
Prior to God destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded with Him on the people’s behalf. Abraham bargained with God until it was clear there was no one righteous.
In God’s mercy, He allowed Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family to escape, but He gave strict instruction to them not to look back. Lot’s wife, consumed perhaps with the sin in the city she was leaving behind, looked back and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt.
Jesus told us to remember Lot’s wife.
When we look back when we fail to see Jesus. We are taken from the blessings and protection that comes from following God exclusively and left to our own defense. Our independence causes us to miss the mercy of God.
Have you been drifting from the truths you know? Have you been wandering in your faith? Have you been neglecting your obedience to God? Have you taken your eyes off Christ?
Remember Lot’s wife today! You cannot live in your past and your present. Trying to do so will hinder your future. We must release the things of our past, including pain, hurt, disappointment failed achievements and deflated dreams. There is a path that God created just for your feet to walk! No two paths are the same. No matter the curves, the dips, the hills, or the valleys, keep walking and don’t look back. We all can take a page out of Lots wife’s book. Looking back can only lead to distraction and destruction. Never forget where you came from but don’t return to place where God delivered you from. Your future is awaiting you; so walk into it, but you can’t get there looking back. Remember Lots
wife and Don’t Look Back!!
“U. R. Valued”
Apostle T. P. Lane