So we decided to become a traveler, and go look at what God had created if for no other reason than He wanted to give us something pretty to look at.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Teton)
“And even when he [Abraham] reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith–for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent….”
“And even when he [Abraham] reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith–for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent….”
–Hebrews 11:9 (NLT)
——————————-
Last week we took time to contemplate one of the simple, yet profound statements in the New Testament, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5, NKJV) Today, I want to look at another one of those little, yet often overlooked verses: Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” (NKJV)
This verse is tucked into Jesus’ teaching about the coming of the Kingdom. The question was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus goes on to expound on this and puts right towards the end of His discourse some warnings, one being to “remember Lot’s wife.” To get this in proper perspective we need to look back at a few verses.
“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
–Luke 17:28-30 (NKJV)
Then a few verses later He says for us to remember Lot’s wife. Of all the women mentioned in the Bible why did Jesus tell us to remember her? From what I can gather she is the only woman in the Bible that Jesus ever told us to remember (Christine Caine) What was it that Lot’s wife did? She simply looked back. Henry Harbuck, in his translation gives some added insight, “Remember that Lot’s wife was warned by God not to return to Sodom or look back. She looked back and died.” That should cause us to seriously think of her actions.
First, she ignored the warning of God given by the angels. She was explicitly admonished not to look back. “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26, NKJV) The kingdom is coming, but there are those who are not really wanting it to happen. I remember the many times that students would say that they want to live their lives before the Lord returns. I felt pity whenever I heard what was being said. The things of this world were holding them and I had to think would it continue to hold them firm? The pleasures of the world entice us, but don’t look back. Paul was grieved when he wrote, “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (2 Timothy 4:10, NKJV).
Another reason not to look back is the warning given by Jesus in Luke 9:62, “No one, having his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (NKJV) People often get involved with the first part of this verse about putting the hand to the plow and looking back will cause you to make crooked furrows. Someone said that in the kingdom of God, “no poor plowers are allowed.” People must be dedicated to the Lord. Looking back causes one to be unfit. To follow Christ we must be committed. Jesus said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38, NKJV) Luke tells us that we must pick up our cross daily (Luke 9:23)
So why did Lot’s wife look back? What was she longing for? Surely not the life of Sodom! Was she a lover of darkness, and the deeds of evil? She was saved from the destruction that was to come. She was on her way to deliverance, yet… Back to the scenario that Jesus is giving–He is speaking about what it will be like when He returns. There will be those who are in the church, those who have heard the preaching of the Word all their lives, but when the Lord returns their hearts will long for this earth more than for heaven. The NKJV Study Bible, “Lot’s wife represents those who are attached to earthly things, those whose hearts are still in this world. Like Lot’s wife, such people will perish.”
We need to heed the words of the Lord. Don’t look back; don’t long for the things of this world. There is a better land ahead. A home waiting for those who are pure and free and undefiled. Look forward to the coming of the Lord! Remember Lot’s wife.
——————————-
Last week we took time to contemplate one of the simple, yet profound statements in the New Testament, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5, NKJV) Today, I want to look at another one of those little, yet often overlooked verses: Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” (NKJV)
This verse is tucked into Jesus’ teaching about the coming of the Kingdom. The question was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus goes on to expound on this and puts right towards the end of His discourse some warnings, one being to “remember Lot’s wife.” To get this in proper perspective we need to look back at a few verses.
“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
–Luke 17:28-30 (NKJV)
Then a few verses later He says for us to remember Lot’s wife. Of all the women mentioned in the Bible why did Jesus tell us to remember her? From what I can gather she is the only woman in the Bible that Jesus ever told us to remember (Christine Caine) What was it that Lot’s wife did? She simply looked back. Henry Harbuck, in his translation gives some added insight, “Remember that Lot’s wife was warned by God not to return to Sodom or look back. She looked back and died.” That should cause us to seriously think of her actions.
First, she ignored the warning of God given by the angels. She was explicitly admonished not to look back. “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26, NKJV) The kingdom is coming, but there are those who are not really wanting it to happen. I remember the many times that students would say that they want to live their lives before the Lord returns. I felt pity whenever I heard what was being said. The things of this world were holding them and I had to think would it continue to hold them firm? The pleasures of the world entice us, but don’t look back. Paul was grieved when he wrote, “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (2 Timothy 4:10, NKJV).
Another reason not to look back is the warning given by Jesus in Luke 9:62, “No one, having his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (NKJV) People often get involved with the first part of this verse about putting the hand to the plow and looking back will cause you to make crooked furrows. Someone said that in the kingdom of God, “no poor plowers are allowed.” People must be dedicated to the Lord. Looking back causes one to be unfit. To follow Christ we must be committed. Jesus said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38, NKJV) Luke tells us that we must pick up our cross daily (Luke 9:23)
So why did Lot’s wife look back? What was she longing for? Surely not the life of Sodom! Was she a lover of darkness, and the deeds of evil? She was saved from the destruction that was to come. She was on her way to deliverance, yet… Back to the scenario that Jesus is giving–He is speaking about what it will be like when He returns. There will be those who are in the church, those who have heard the preaching of the Word all their lives, but when the Lord returns their hearts will long for this earth more than for heaven. The NKJV Study Bible, “Lot’s wife represents those who are attached to earthly things, those whose hearts are still in this world. Like Lot’s wife, such people will perish.”
We need to heed the words of the Lord. Don’t look back; don’t long for the things of this world. There is a better land ahead. A home waiting for those who are pure and free and undefiled. Look forward to the coming of the Lord! Remember Lot’s wife.