Don’t Look Back
Lot is an interesting character in the Bible. He was Abraham’s nephew and was cared for by him. Lot embraced Abraham’s monotheistic faith and when God directed Abraham to move, Lot followed him to the land of Canaan. He prospered under the protection and guidance of his uncle, but when it became necessary to part company, Lot chose the easier of two paths. He desired the “good” life, so he chose to go down from the mountains to live in the cities of the plain.
Lot maintained a degree of integrity and moral uprightness in the midst of a corrupt generation as did his wife and his two virgin daughters. When judgment came on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, angels were sent to save him and his family. All he had acquired was now reduced to what he could carry on his back. The place he had chosen to leave was now the place he had to flee to. One thing God required of him and that was not to look back.
To take the easy path down to the valley did not require faith, but to obey God’s warning of imminent danger and go up to the mountain did require faith. His desires were now all behind him. All he had worked for was behind him. God was calling him to go up. Lot’s wife just wanted one more look. Sure things were bad. Sin abounded on all sides, but it was all she had. She wanted just one more look. That look cost her, her life. Lot went on to father two nations, but his wife was left as a pillar of salt.
Don’t look back to what is condemned by God. Don’t try to hold on to what is fading away. God has a path of faith for us to follow that will take us up to a new high place. Choose right from the beginning. Keep following the faith of Abraham.
When the going gets easy, you may be going downhill – anonymous
Scriptures to meditate on:
Genesis 19; Mat. 7:14; Luke 9:62