Biblically Sound Church in Kansas City | Remember Lot’s Wife

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And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17:26-32 NKJV

This illustration depicts a man on the roof of his house when Christ returns.  There will be no time to go back inside his house to get his stuff. We all have stuff in our house that is important to us.  But I believe not only is that stuff the material goods we hold dear but it can also be unresolved issues.  

On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.  Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”  Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.”  Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.”Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” Luke 9: 57-62 The Message

What is causing someone to miss the move of God in our personal life or even in church are unresolved issues. There is stuff you need to forget about. The Bible clearly says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. But that doesn’t mean we need to work out every detail of our lives and put the move of God on hold.

 Do you know that most miracles in the Bible are preceded with words like straightaway, quickly, or immediately?  When we surrender to a God He can move quickly in your life. God wants to give you a straightaway miracle. God moves quickly.  The problem is we do not. But He is trying to get us ready. Sometimes this means we need to allow spontaneity. How is it we can be spontaneous in so many areas of our lives but not when it comes to obeying Jesus?

Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”  Luke 9:62

Let’s go back to this scripture,

Remember Lot’s wife.  Luke 17:36

Just who is this nameless woman?  As Jesus ministers, she is briefly interjected as a warning.

I see her husband Lot as indecisive, confused, even insecure.  This woman married a man on the run. He had no vision. He had very little in the manner of a prayer life.  He followed Abraham but had no idea where Abraham was going. Yes, we know Abraham was following God and because of this Lot was blessed in some ways.  However, after Lot had acquired some stuff he decided he needed to move forward on his own. Can you imagine the thoughts of his wife? Finally, they could settle down.  The problem was they chose to settle down in Sodom a city known for sex sins and homosexuality.

Let’s pause here.  These days the church tends to cringe when the sin of Sodom is mentioned.  Our culture is beginning to influence the church and many are choosing culture over truth.  But here is something I find very interesting. When Jesus says…

Remember Lot’s wife.

He does not mention sexual sin.  Instead He says,

 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.  Luke 17:28-32

But wasn’t sexual sin the focus?  Let’s go back to the night Lot left Sodom.

But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.  They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”

 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.  “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing.  Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”

 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.  Gen 19:4-9 NLT

This is an intense picture here.  Lot and his wife are so far off-grid.  This shows me you can love God and be off track.  You can love God and get your family in a mess. 

 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.  Gen 19:9 NLT

Perversion was surrounding Lot’s house.  Today perversion is trying to surround your house through the internet, through movies, through music.  The world and it’s way of thinking is trying to get in.

So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.“Please, my brothers,” Gen 19: 6-7 NLT

How far off track do you have to be to call the people of this world your brother?  Remember when you got saved? There was so much you would not do. Are you still convicted like that or have you been drawn into thinking and living the same way as the people of this world?

The world is trying to push its way into your home.  Are you still standing for holiness or do you now call holiness legalism?

But again Sodom represents perversion yet this is not what Jesus seems to be focusing on here.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built… Luke 17:28

Lot’s wife had spent so much time following her husband from place to place.  They put up tents and then packed and took them back down. But now she lives in a city.  There is a market where she can easily buy the food or clothing she needs. She has developed relationships with other wives and mothers.  And she finally has a house that she can decorate. Forget that men are trying to break into that house and attack her husband. She has grown comfortable.

Let’s consider something else.  

Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. Now the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger,  “Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.  Gen 19:30-35

This true account is documented in scripture but in no way did God condone this peversity. Today one out of every three girls and one out of every four boys will be molested. And many will be molested in their own homes.  Again I ask what are you allowing in your home?

Here is a strong question to consider.

Would your kids have a better chance of living for God if you were not their parent?

There are men that yell at their wives and wonder why their kids are angry and rebellious.  There are Christians who see nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. There is compromise and hidden sin and folks are wondering why their families are falling apart.

Lot had brought his wife to this place of compromise and now when it’s time to obey God and leave she did not want to go.

If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” ― C. S. Lewis.

Do you know Jesus can be disruptive?  I am sure we are all familiar with the following scripture.

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money “changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ “ Matthew 21:12-13

God wants to do something big in you and through you.  But He also wants to get in your house and disrupt things.

This house wrecking God told Lot he was in the wrong place and he needed to move out.  Finally Lot, with all of his bad decisions and compromise was hearing from God.  

God spoke to Lot. He spoke to the husband.  Listen wife I know your husband may have made some mistakes.  But just like God can change you He can change your husband and move through him. Can you forgive your husband and trust Jesus in him?

God told Lot it was time to leave Sodom but his wife did not want to leave.  All she had to do was follow. But she looked back. Was she looking back to the perversion of the men of the city?  Was she looking back to the sexual sins? No, she was looking back to her comfort.  

So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Gen 19: 18-22 NKJ

Zoar was literally half way between the mountain and Sodom.  Lot allowed Sodom to still be in view and his wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.

Our desire for comfort will keep us from going all the way.  Our desire for our comfort zone will cause us to keep looking back. 

Go all the way to the mountain. Go all the way to the cross.  Go all the way and don’t look back.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of 

faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Heb 12:1 NLT 

PRAY THIS

Father please reveal all disobedience, compromise, and sin in my heart.  Help me when comfort and pleasure is my goal. Keep me faithful to you and your will.  Help me to stop giving you hal hearted effort. By Your mercy, love, and grace I choose to go all the way with Jesus!!

MEDITATE ON THIS

Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”  Luke 9:62