“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!” “But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:17, 26 NLT
Years ago some friends and I were at a house out in town when a typhoon warning was issued. We should have headed back as soon as we heard the warning but we stayed a little longer and ran out of time to safely get back onto the military base before the storm hit. So, we had to remain where we were until it passed by. Thankfully, God spared us from harm that day. He could have permitted a very different outcome.
There are times when even though we know what action is required of us, we need a little shove to get us moving in the right direction! Lot knew about the impending destruction of Sodom, yet he and his family lingered there. They had to be forced to leave by a couple of angels! In today’s dose verse, we see that Lot’s wife didn’t abide by the plan that the angels had put together for her family—to run away from Sodom and never look back. She gave into the temptation to take one last look back and it cost her life.
Is there a place in your life that you continue to return, physically or mentally, that you know the Holy Spirit has called you away from? Maybe it’s a previous relationship, or an unhealthy habit that you just can’t seem to shake. Perhaps you constantly entertain or verbalize negative thoughts about yourself.
We’re not immune to the daily struggles of sin and temptation just because we enter into a relationship with the Lord. We continue to be tempted to go back to the familiar, even if it’s destructive, because we’re not really comfortable with change. ‘The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know’, right?
As we change from the person we used to be into the person God calls us to be, we’ll be tempted to lingeringly reminisce on the old and familiar.
But we must look forward—no holding onto the old ways, because that will result in our destruction. Run and don’t look back! God will provide the angels you need to help you each step of the way!
What price are you willing to pay for lingering?
[Read Genesis chapter 19 for the account of Lot and his wife]
By grace through faith,
Rita
As a follower of Christ, I have enjoyed fellowship with Him for over 50 years now. However, being a creature of habit, time with God can become just that – HABIT – if I’m not careful. To develop a growing, vibrant relationship requires time, effort, desire, and a whole lot of love. The same applies to our prayer life.
Jesus was faithful to God to carry out everything that he was sent on earth to do by the one who sent him. Christ is faithful to us because God is faithful to us. God said he would send His son down to save us.