Sodom and Gomorrah is about to be
destroyed. The two angels forced Lot, his wife and his two
daughters out of the city. They were hesitant to leave, but the
angels didn't take no for an answer. They literally took them by
the hands and forced them out. He told them to leave for the
mountains. But Lot didn't want to.
"Oh no, my lords please," Lot
begged. "You have been so kind to me and saved my life, and you
granted me such mercy. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster
would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. See, there is a
small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don't you see
how small it is? Then my life will be saved." Genesis
19:18-20
The angel granted his request. And
not only did he grant his request, he also told him that he
wouldn't destroy that village either. The angel waited until Lot
reached the village, before judgment rained down on the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah.
"Then the Lord rained down fire
and burning sulphur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah. He
utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of
the plain, eliminating all life - people, plants and animals
alike." Genesis 19:24, 25
And then unfortunately Lot's wife
looked back. She longed for her home and all her possessions. And
because she didn't listen to the angel's instructions of not
looking back, she turned into a pillar of salt. She was judged
alongside the people she lived with for years.
Now it is easy to judge her. It is
easy to look from a distance and say that she should have listened.
But a lot of times we are the same. Sometimes we also look back and
long for the 'good old days' and murmur about the terrible
situation we find ourselves in now. Instead of looking up to God
and being the difference for His kingdom, right here and right now.
When we look back the whole time, we miss all the things that God
wants to bless us with right now.
Other times we look back longingly
at sin that we just don't want to let go of. We want to move
forward with God, but we don't want to let this sin go. We enjoy it
so much and justify our actions whenever we are confronted. Jesus
told us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). You either
serve sin or you serve God. Maybe the time has come to let go. God
wants you to follow Him wholeheartedly and not with sin still
tagging along like a best friend on holiday.
Also do not put your love for your
possessions above your love for God. Do not desire things, like a
house, cars, rings, clothing etc more than God. Always place God
first. He deserves first place in your heart. Look up to Him.
Do not be like Lot's wife. All that
people remembers of her, millennia after she lived, is that she was
the one that looked back and disobeyed God. That is all people know
of her. She might have done good things in her life, we don't know,
but she will be remembered for this one act. Do not be like her. Do
not be remembered as the one who couldn't trust God and kept on
looking back. Rather be remembered as a man/woman of faith,
standing up for what is right and following God's light no matter
what, looking forward to all He is planning for you. Then one day
in heaven God will be pleased and say, "Well done, My faithful
child, I am proud of you." Can there ever be a greater moment than
that?
Father please help our unbelieving
hearts. Help us to look forward to where You are leading us. Please
help us, as we are afraid and uncertain of what the future holds.
But thank you Father that we can be safe with You. We want to make
You proud. In Jesus' Name. Amen