Keep Moving, Don’t Look Back
But Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 (NIV)
One great thing about starting a new day is that it’s a new day! I remember a time in my life when I longed for a new day, as a matter of fact, I couldn’t wait for a new year. But whether I had a good year or a difficult year, one thing was consistent—they both ended. Life keeps moving whether we wish for it to end or we pray it will not end; life does not stand still.
I’m reminded of a family in Scripture where life, as they knew it, changed within minutes. I am referring to Lot’s family. Lot was Abraham’s nephew and they lived in a very evil place that you have probably heard of: Sodom and Gomorrah. The evil was so extreme that God decided to destroy the entire place. Since Abraham knew his nephew and family lived in the area, Abraham pleaded with God to spare Lot and his family. God agreed. God sent two angels to Lot with a message to quickly gather his family. As soon as Lot and his family were safely out of the city, one of the angels said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” (Genesis 19:17, NIV)
There is a huge message within this story. God rescues and God gives us new beginnings. I don’t know about you, but I can relate. I think back to a time when I was at a crossroad in my life and did not know which way to go. But thanks to God’s great mercy, He directed me and provided me with a new beginning. As I look back on my life, I tremble when I think what could have happened had I not obeyed God. I am sure many of you can relate.
For the most part, it is not a sin to look back on your past. Sometimes looking back reminds you of God’s faithfulness and sometimes it reminds you of your lack of faith. It’s only a sin to look back when God says, “don’t look back”. For Lot’s wife, looking back was disobedience. She was specifically told to flee and not to look back—but she did. Therefore, her looking back and longing for her past life destroyed her new beginning. She became a pillar of salt.
She was one step closer to a new beginning with her family when she disobeyed God. The looking back and longing for her past life brought her to destruction. Lot’s wife had no idea what God would have done if she had only obeyed Him. Certainly we can learn from our past mistakes. Certainly God uses our past experiences to strengthen us. But when we long more for the things from which God has delivered us rather than trusting God for His plans for us, we are in danger of losing life all together. We might not die physically, but we will certainly die emotionally and spiritually. When we desire our will over His will, we choose the things that will usually enslave us and steal our freedom to enjoy life.
Are you willing to walk away from the things you know God has told you to leave and not look back? Remember this, you may be one step closer to the very life you have always wanted. A new beginning may be as easy as fleeing from your past and never looking back. Forgetting those things that are in the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Now that’s freedom and that’s real life! HURRY! FLEE AND DON’T LOOK BACK!
Further Reading Genesis 19
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