What I want to concentrate upon is Lot's wife. The angels who appeared to Lot advised him to leave the town and escape with his wife and daughters; and not to look back. As they left, Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
What is the lesson for us there? It is not necessarily that Lot's wife, (who is nameless in the Bible), disobeyed God's instructions. It is because she looked back and longed for her previous life. She looked back with envy, with longing to be back there in the comfort of her previous life and surroundings and friends. She did not want to move forwards to new horizons and a better future as offered by God.
Reminiscent of the Israelites when they left Egypt with Moses and wanted to go back to the "comforts" of slavery where they had plenty to eat and drink.
Jesus reminds us about the dangers of looking back when He says, “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 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. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” Luke 17:28-30
And again, in Luke 9:62 we read: Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
There are many people in difficult situations right now and who are afraid to move forwards. It could be a wrong relationship, an abusive environment, addiction, wrong employment, being with a bad crowd, the wrong place in life altogether. And yet, one is afraid to move forwards and to try something new. To walk away and start afresh. People become too cosy, too comfortable, in the situation they are in to bother to move on and forwards hand in hand with God.
I appreciate that many cannot leave their present situations for a variety of reasons; and if so, they need to seek professional advice. But besides that, how many are there who can move on and start afresh and do not do so. Perhaps because of inertia or because they look back with longing for what they are about to leave behind if they move on.
God loves us; and He often speaks to us, opening doors and opportunities to move on, to change, to step forwards in blind faith that He will not let us down; and not to hang on to a situation that has gone wrong. By all means, we can look back and learn from our past; but it does not mean we should remain in our past.
That's what Lot's wife did. She wanted to remain in her past. She looked back and longed to be there again.
God will sometimes lead us to new beginnings. When it is Him speaking He makes sure we know it is Him. Let us listen to His quiet still voice urging us to move on when He calls us. We are always in life in the very place that God wishes us to be; but there are times when He calls us for something new in His service.
Is anyone listening?
I needed to read this, Victor! While my present circumstances aren't awful, I often long for the life I once led. It was truly the Best of times.
ReplyDelete.. but because great intentions often fail me, I'm going to clip and save this post.
There's nothing wrong in looking back with fondness for a past life Mevely. I know that I had some great times in the past, and some terrible ones too. By looking back we learn from the past and we make ourselves happy memories today to sustain and comfort us in our tomorrows. There's nothing wrong with that,
DeleteSome people, however, yearn to go back to their past, and by doing so they get stuck like a pillar of salt and do not move forwards to what God has planned for them. Lot's wife did that. So did the Israelites who longed to go back to the slavery in Egypt. That's why they went round in circles for 40 years unable to find what God had promised them. It was left for the second generation to eventually enter the Promised Land.
You are right, our past was the Best of times. Sadly this is because at the moment the world has lost its moral compass and does not know where to look for it. They have excluded God from their lives.
Thank you for saving/printing this post. God bless you always my friend.
...keep your eye on the prize.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another barbed comment, Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
EXCELLENT post here, Victor. Yes, I'm listening. Similar thoughts have come to my mind in recent weeks as I approach the 5-year anniversary of a life-changing event. I am feeling a sense of release (or is there a better word?) and that I need to truly accept the changes that have come to me and feel the freedom to really enjoy where I am now. It won't be that hard but the old human nature sometimes gets into a little slump on a cloudy day and "the way it used to be" tries to take over. I like the way you described "Mrs. Lot" (that's her name). Thanks for writing this message.
ReplyDeleteWe all get a little apprehensive, and perhaps cautious, when we are faced with a life changing decision. Whether it is a decision we make freely or whether it is imposed upon us by events outwith our control. This is natural, Barbara. It's our human nature reacting to changing events. As best we can, we should let go of the past and move forwards in trust of God. Easier said than done, I'll admit. But we should at least try ... and pray for God's help.
DeletePraying for you my friend. God bless.
You said that so well, Victor!!!
ReplyDeleteThanx K. God bless.
DeleteAs always, I love your insights. Lot's wife was part of my life as a kid, my imagination ran wild. BUT, but this aside, I started POCKET SERMONS last night, I think I am near half. This is a very good book. Thinking of sending some of he work to my pastor.. Seriously. I certainly appreciate your love and sincerity. Oh and I only told Sherry a little about the priest that am to live with you. I jus about felt sorry for you.
ReplyDeleteLove you my friend and THANKS.
Thank you so much Jack, my dear friend. You are always so kind and polite to me; and I appreciate your encouragement and support of my writings. It took me a while finding suitable articles for Pocket Sermons. I did not want to be preachy in this book, but to tackle issues which must have crossed our minds but perhaps never asked or talked about.
DeleteThank you also Jack for your much valued AMAZON Reviews of my books. It is reviews such as yours which hopefully encourage people to read my writings and hopefully get to search for God in their lives.
God bless you and Sherry always.
PS wish I had proof read better. but I will say I meant "..told /Sherry about the Priest that CAME to live with you. I will try to do better.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jack. I understood what you meant.
DeletePraying for you and yours. God bless.
Víctor, maravillosa entrada .
ReplyDeleteSeguir adelante aunque todo sea incierto con fe y coraje, si miramos mucho atrás no podemos avanzar.
Ah, estudie en colegio de monjas, me se la biblia de memoria el viejo y el nuevo testamento, me gustaba mucho leerla.
Que tengas un hermoso fin de semana, no mires atrás.
Besos
TRANSLATION: Victor, wonderful post.
DeleteKeep moving forward even when everything is uncertain, with faith and courage. If we look back too much, we can't move forward.
Oh, I studied at a convent school. I know the Bible by heart, both the Old and New Testaments. I loved reading it.
Have a beautiful weekend. Don't look back. Kisses.
Thank you so much, Momentos, for your nice comment. You are right, there is so much in the Bible for us to read and to follow Christ.
God bless you.
When He calls, we do need to go, as hard as it may be, or seem. This may be the key word, "seem," it seems hard, but staying is harder, always.
ReplyDeleteAmen Mimi. It is our fears that stop us from moving forwards hand in hand with our Lord.
DeleteGod bless.
This was excellent. I am going to save it. You have to let go of the past and go forward towards God.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Sandie about letting go of the past. Thank you so much for saving/printing this post. Please share it with those who might need it.
DeleteGod bless you.
Sometimes it is time to go.
ReplyDeleteP.S. "Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
DeleteOnly to find Gideon's Bible..."
Thanx Sandi. That's a song I'd never heard before.
DeleteGod bless always.
Victor, thank you so much for this post! This is a great reminder to not look back, to not dwell on the past, but to move forward and keep our eyes on Jesus. A heartfelt thank you! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteMany thanx, Linda. So much time is wasted by so many people looking back to times long gone.
DeleteGod bless you.
Hi, Victor! I don't know how I missed this post from you on Saturday as I'm usually pretty methodical about going through everyone's blogs. So sorry! Yes, we can learn from our past, but even if we could go back, we couldn't change things. When God calls us forward, the least we can do is follow Him. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree Martha; the sad thing though is that many are too afraid to go forwards and trust God enough to follow Him.
DeleteGod bless, my friend.