Remember Lot's Wife

Introduction:

God was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of God’s love and covenant with Abraham, God shared with Abraham what was going to happen. Abraham asked God to spare the city if 50 righteous could be found, but there were not 50 righteous. Abraham tried 45, then 40, them 30, then 20, and finally he asked God if He would spare the city if 10 righteous could be found, but not even 10 righteous could be found.

In Genesis 19 we find that two angels arrived and Lot not knowing these two men insisted that they stay at his home. While at Lot’s home that evening, the men of the city wanted Lot to send them out so they could have sex with them. The men even tried to break into the home, but the angels struck them with blindness. The angels then told Lot to gather up his family and leave because they were going to destroy the city.

Morning comes and the angels tell Lot to hurry and take his family away from the city or they will perish too, but Lot hesitates and the angels have to escort them out of the city. They tell him to flee and not look back. (vs. 24) “Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah.” Everything in and around the cities was destroyed, and then Lot’s wife….she looks back. She failed to do what she was told.

Ever get your mind set on doing something your way regardless of what anyone else thinks, even God? This morning I will tell you that the devil knows exactly how to tempt you. He knows what will trip you up. What you need to do is fight the urge to sin. Follow the commands of God or you will suffer the consequences.

How do we, as Christians, follow God’s commands? Jesus tells us in Luke 17:32 to “Remember Lot’s wife.”

TRANSITION—we need to remember the actions of Lot and his family and do the opposite.

Don’t Hesitate:

When God calls you out of a situation, one surrounded by sin, don’t hesitate, get moving! Notice, the angels told Lot to “hurry” or he and his family would also die. They’ll be “swept away”, snatched up, destroyed, consumed. But what did Lot do? Lot hesitated, he waited, and he delayed. But the angels grabbed each of them by the hand and took them out of the city. They hesitated; they didn’t want to leave, even after hearing what was going to happen. Even after that the angels still led them out. God rescued them. In Colossians 1:13, we find that God rescued us. It says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Have you ever hesitated in doing something that you knew God was telling you to do? I’m guilty. It’s something out of our comfort zone so we try our best to avoid it. Yet after that God still takes us back, He rescues us from our sin.

TRANSITION—once we pass that hesitation point, and finally decide to do what God is telling us to do then we cannot look back!

Don’t Look Back:

Lot and his family were rescued and told not to look back. I know it was difficult for Lot to leave his home and go somewhere new, but it is difficult for us also. Have you experienced having to leave something/someone behind because you knew that it wasn’t plan/will for your life? I lost one of my best friends from high school because some of the dumb stuff we did in high school, he carried into college, and I repeatedly told him that what he was doing was wrong in the eyes of God and that I didn’t approve. Finally I had to give up the friendship because it was hurting my walk with God that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. That was my past but God was calling me to a better future. See, we are to flee our past lives and sins because Christ has rescued us.

TRANSITION—do not hesitate, do not look back, and FIGHT THE URGE!

Don’t fall to the Urge:

Lot’s wife knew not to look back, but the temptation was too much for her to handle. What sin in your life controls you to the point that you can’t fight the urge? We tend to give in to the urge. Lot’s wife fell to the temptation and looked back. What happened to her? She lost her life. You can’t walk the fence very long before you fall. In Revelation 3 we see a church that tried to walk the fence. Laodicea, the only one of the seven churches that Christ has nothing good to say to them. They were lukewarm, they thought they had it all but Christ tells them they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. They fell to the urges of their sins. When you give in to sin, it will paralyze you. Regardless of your excuses for falling to that sin, God does not buy it. However, God gives you a way out.