LOT'S WIFE - PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY

Genesis 19 records God's angels leading Lot's family to safety outside the wicked city of Sodom and saying to them: "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain!.." (v.17)

"Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah - from the Lord out of the heavens." (v.24)

"But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (v.26)

The disobedience of Lot's wife to the mercy and grace of God's instructions brought eternal PUNISHMENT upon her.

It was Sudden.

It was Serious.

It was Settled.

She lagged behind when she'd been told to "flee." She stopped when she'd been told not to. She looked back when she'd been expressly forbidden to do so.

And when she did, the burning sulfur - probably much like the gases and hot molten lava that would spew from a volcano - whipped itself around our sin-sick sister from head to toe, smothering the life from her with sodium chloride and encrusting her in an instant sarcophagus.

Sodom and Gomorrah are believed to have existed near what is now the southern tip of the Dead Sea. There are deposits of salt, like pillars, still in that area today.

Listen to what the prophet Ezekiel wrote: "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49)

Oh. Wow! GULP!

Do you think we can say the same thing of our American culture today?

• we are arrogant
• overfed and unconcerned
• we do not help the poor and needy???

What about ourselves as an individual?

• are you arrogant
• overfed and unconcerned
• failing to help the poor and needy??

Jesus wants us to "remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32) He wants us to learn from her example so that we make wise choices and are prepared for His return. Since we don't know the day nor hour of Christ's return, then we should have our hearts and minds in the right place to follow Him every day.

Look at what Jesus said immediately after He told us to "remember Lot's wife."

The idea of seeking to save your life is a picture of a person who searches only

• to please self
• to protect self
• to promote self
• to enrich self

It's a picture of a totally self-focused person. One much like Lot's wife!

On the other hand, "losing" one's life is a picture of one who does not seek only their own will and way.

This person releases his life into the hands of the Lord to follow Him and His will. When the Lord says "walk" (flee, leave), this person walks. When the Lord says "don't" (don't stop, don't look back), this person doesn't.

• This person "remembers Lot's wife" and has learned from her unfortunate example.
• This person knows that God will do what He says He will do.
• This person trusts God enough to obey Him.
• This person is honest with God and walks in truth.

Is this person YOU?