TITLE: REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE
TEXT: GENESIS 19:17,26; LUKE 17:32
A State’s Highway Department post Warning Signs to warn of a dangerous stretch of highway that is ahead of the drivers who have chosen to take that particular road. The Lord has done the same in the Word of God and Lot’s Wife is one such warning to those who would consider taking the same path that she took, a path which ended in her total destruction.
Salt in the Bible speaks of influence (Matthew 5:13) and Lot’s wife stands as a Pillar of Salt in an attempt to influence each to take a different path than she foolishly chose.
We know nothing about her except that she was a Wife, a Women. Worldly, and a Wasted life. Her story is really a product of her husbands life. She is described by the Lord as “Lot’s” Wife. It is really his choices and his influence that is at the center of her story. As we look at the warnings Lot’s Wife gives to us, lets also remember the warning of the drastic consequence that our worldly lives can have on the people we love the most.
Lets look at several warnings Lot’s Wife is meant to share with each of us.
I. THE DANGER OF DELUSION
Webster’s Dictionary defines “Delusion” as; “Implying a belief in something that is contrary to fact or reality”.
That certainly defines Lot’s wife. She was a woman who thought she was SAVED, when her lifestyle, beliefs and values was contrary to everything Scripture has to say about a true child of God.
Many in the Church today are an exact replica of Lot’s Wife and like her, are under the Delusion that they are really saved. Many who claimed to be saved don’t accept the basic Fundamentals of the Christian Faith, such as Hell, that salvation is exclusively in Jesus Christ, or that the Bible is the Inspired, Infallible Word of God. Many more believe the Fundamentals, yet live lives that deny the probability that they have ever truly repented and trusted Jesus and Jesus alone for salvation.
In times like these, be very sure. Examine yourselves to see if you are truly in the Faith. Make your Election and Calling Sure.
II. THE DANGER OF DELAY
Each time we see Lot’s Wife she is Delaying to be obedient to the Lord to Flee the Wrath to Come. Judgment was imminent as she was delaying. Luke 13:25 tells us that the master will one day arise and shut the door to salvation for all who have delayed coming to the Lord and once the door of salvation is shut all the pleading in the world will never open it again. Today is the day of salvation. Today if you hear His voice harden not your hearts.
III. THE DANGER OF DISOBEDIENCE
Lot’s wife was cut down in the very act of disobedience. The Lord had said: “Look not behind you” [Genesis 19:17], yet Genesis 19:26 tells us “…but his wife looked from behind him”.
Hebrews 10:26 warns us that willful disobedience will always lead to “…certain fearful…judgment.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God”. [Hebrews 10:31]
“There is a sin unto death”. [I John 5:16]
Even Moses died when he disobeyed. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked…” [Galatians 6:7]
Sinning against light is the most dangerous sin a person can commit, yet the Church is full of people who are in willful disobedience to the Lord’s Word. They have no idea the mortal danger they are in. Lot’s life is a warning to such rebels to repent and submit.
IV. THE DANGER OF DISTRACTIONS
Luke 17:29 tells us that the people in Lot’s day, like the people in Noah’s day [Luke 17:26,27] were distracted by the world and all it had to offer. Many even in the Church today are so distracted by the world they have no time, nor interest in Jesus and the more important spiritual and eternal matters.
Lot’s wife stands as a warning about getting so distracted by the world that they end up sacrificing their eternal souls for the temporal things of life.
Sodom was on the brink of judgment, of total annihilation, and she was not able to keep her eyes on Jesus and eternity. Her heart was in Sodom and she couldn’t break away from the world, that is the real reason she disobeyed the Lord and looked back.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. [Matthew 6:21]
“For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Matthew 16:26]
[1 John 2:15-17](KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
V. THE DANGER OF DEPARTURE
The pull of this old world is strong, it is constantly pulling us (as it did Lot’s wife) back to our old life, back to our old ways, back to our our old crowd, and like Lot’s wife, back from whence we came.
When we feel that pull it would do us good to read John 6:66-71. Many at that time were departing from the Lord. There was a great falling away and Jesus asked the twelve if they were going to depart from Him as well. Peter is quick to reply; “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the Words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
We also see that Jesus had a Judas among His twelve. Jesus called him a devil, meaning he had never truly been saved and his coming departure and betrayal would be proof of that.
Many are departing Jesus and the Christian Faith today, and seemingly believing that they can do so without any eternal consequences. To such fools, Lot’s wife stands as a warning of how wrong they are.
CONCLUSION:
Along the highway of life Jesus has placed Lot’s wife as a warning to the eternal dangers of Delusion, of Delay, of Disobedience, of Distractions, and of Departure.
“He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”. [Revelation 2:11]
