Remember Lot's wife . . .

"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Gen 19.26

Imagine being a famous person. Your picture on magazines and all over TV. You are given royal treatment everywhere you go - never having to stand in line, wait on others or be overlooked. Everyone knows your name and calls you friend. Then God tells you to give it all up. The fame, fortune and prestige you had become so accustomed to; how eager would you be to leave it all behind and never look back? Lot and his wife probably enjoyed similar standing in Sodom and she may have struggled with leaving the "fabulous" life behind.

There is debate over exactly what made Lot's wife disobey the command not to look back, but I think it is left this way because there are several lessons to be taken from her transgression.

In the New Testament, Jesus warns of loving the world more than God:
"Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." (Luke 17.32-33)

And John backs this up:
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world." (I John 2:15-16)

It is possible that Lot's wife was so enamored of the charmed life she led as the wife of a wealthy and important man that the seduction of it forced her to stop and take one last look at what she was giving up. I personally understand the allure of "stuff". It was strong enough to bankrupt me and send my life spiralling. I recall that on the day I was forced to leave my life and possessions behind, I stopped and looked back as well.

Maybe there were friendships formed in Sodom that she didn't want to leave. I also understand the difficulty of leaving behind friends, physically and figuratively. When you leave a job or school or neighborhood, it can be a sad to say goodbye to people who've become fixtures in your life. I recall times when I almost changed my mind because the feeling was so great. Likewise, having to let go of unbelieving friends and associates when you decide to follow Christ can be difficult and cause you to have second thoughts.

Yet, maybe it's not material things, friends or even status that God is asking you to leave behind. One thing we must consider is that Lot and his wife had more than the two daughters they left the city with. . ."So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, 'Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!' But his sons-in-law thought he was joking." (Gen 19.14)The angel also says "take your daughters who are here" suggesting that there were other daughters who were not there. What if God was commanding you to let go of your child or parent or significant other? How easy would it be to walk away?

There are parents whose children just won't act right of whom God is telling them to let go. There are parents that somehow lost their way and won't listen to children who beg them to return to God. And there are new believers who find themselves in relationships that are not ordained by, nor approving to God. How do you find the strength to walk away and never look back?

People will say to you, "but that's your mom" or "that's your son;" "how can you just turn your back on them?" And I'm sure we are all acquainted with Love's call! The carnal desire to cling to that woman who had your children or that man you've been with since high school. Even if you are a woman being supported by a man and don't know how you'll survive without his help. Maybe your gay friends are all you know. They were there for you when your family turned away. How do you reconcile in your mind doing what God is telling you in your heart?

Look at what the Scriptures say:
"If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me." (Matthew 10:37-39 The MSG)

Our human nature tells us that leaving behind flesh and blood is wrong. Our carnal nature tells us that the world has so much more to offer than God. Our lack of faith tells us that we can't live without wealth, status and power. But God tells us He is all we need. So, Jesus reminded us to remember Lot's wife. Remember the sacrifice that was asked of her and what happened when she disobeyed.

Yet God made us a promise if we do obey:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (2Chronicles 7.14)