“But Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.” (Gen 19:26 – MSG)
In the book of Genesis chapter 19 we find an interesting story about Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot had been visited by some angelic beings that came to save him and his family from an immoral and detestable city. To Lot and his family’s surprise they were commanded to leave the city immediately. While they tried to comprehend this message, they hesitated, and tried decide if they were going to be obedient or not. In this story we find a dysfunctional family fleeing for their lives, trying to escape from Sodom and Gomorrah. Their directions were simple, run and don’t look back. As they fled the city heading towards a place of sanctuary, Lot’s wife looks back and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
I often wonder, was she curios? Did she just want to know what was happening? Did she not clearly get the instructions, or did she just desire the life she was leaving behind? I am reminded of all those classic movies where someone is hanging on the edge of great precipice. Their help yells at them, “Don’t look down!”, and the first thing they do is look down. The direction may be clear, but for some reason we always look back or look down. The story really doesn’t tell us the reason why Lot’s wife turned around, but in Luke 17:32 we find some clarity when we read the words of Jesus, “Remember Lot’s wife! Anyone who tries to keep his life will lose it. Anyone who loses his life will keep it.” (Luke 17:33 NIRV) Jesus says there will come a day when we will have to decide where our hearts truly reside, are our lives devoted to God or to the world.
The Lord will return one day for His bride the church. Scripture says that He will come like a thief in the night when we least expect it. God has given us signs and many would say that the time of His return is near. Let’s not wait until we are taken off guard; take the time today and evaluate your priorities in life. Are you passionately pursuing the things of this world, thus only bringing worried and stress into your life, or are you passionately pursuing God. Follow God’s direction today, run to Him, and don’t look back.
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
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