Christine Caine has a wonderful message on this passage of Scripture…Remember Lot’s wife. Jesus tells us of only one woman to remember…Lot’s wife. Lot’s wife wasn’t willing to move forward. She longed for the past and what was. She wasn’t willing to move forward. She was comfortable. She looked back at where she once was and…was turned to a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19 describes what happened with Lot’s wife. Lot lived in a city that was about to be destroyed by God’s angels. The angels warned Lot to take his wife and two daughters. When Lot lingered the angels took their hands (no time to waste) and led them out of the city, to be spared. Once outside the city, Lot and his family were instructed to go and to NOT look back or else you will be swept away. But Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.
Jesus says, “Remember Lot’s wife” in Luke 17:32. Her name isn’t given but it is warned…do not be like her.
Luke records these words of Jesus. Jesus was talking about when He returns. Stop living in the past. Look to the future. Lot’s wife longed for what she was leaving behind. She wasn’t looking forward to the future. Prepare for the future. God has a plan for the future. No time to waste. Don’t dwell in the past because the Hope is in the future!
There is a difference between reminiscing of memories versus longing for the past, for what was. Reminiscing of a loved one or a vacation is good. Those memories are healthy. Longing for something that once was…not as good.
What can get me to long for the past…a few things. When I am being pressed, I tend to long for the times when I wasn’t. When I am depressed, I tend to long for the times I wasn’t. When I tend to dwell on the “I should haves,” I tend to long for a change of my choices. When things are uncomfortable, I tend to long for the times I was comfortable. Just this past week I longed for the past when I was comfortable. It was a REALLY rough week in the “parenting a child from a hard past” department.
Looking forward can be scary. Unknown. Looking forward takes courage. I have to focus on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. Trusting He is holding my right hand. Trusting that He will lead me through all my storms in life. This is how I step forward and not look back.
Once I realize the future that is for me…the future that is secure because I claim Jesus as my Savior…the future where there is Hope (Jesus) everlasting…the future where there is no more pain, no more tears, no more mourning…I shouldn’t need to long for the past. It could never hold to what my future has for me. What my Hope has for me.
I am ONE story,
~ Kristy
Genesis 19:16-17 NLT (New Living Translation)
16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
Genesis 19:24-26 NLT (New Living Translation)
24 Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
Luke 17:32 NIV (New International Version)
32 Remember Lot’s wife!
Hebrews 12:2 ASV (American Standard Version)
2…looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 73:23 ESV (English Standard Version)
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
Isaiah 43:2 NLT (New Living Translation)
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
Revelation 21:4 ESV (English Standard Version)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.