Verse Of The Day

Thursday, October 11, 2012

DON'T LOOK BACK

If you are spending your life looking back over your shoulder at your old life wondering what it could have been if things were different, then you are not looking to the One who will guide your every step perfectly. When God tells us what to do and especially when to do something we must do it in his timing. The windshield in your car is much bigger than your rear view mirror for a good reason. We would never drive our car while looking in the rear view mirror so why spend your life continuing to look back at the past. If we continue to look back and think on the old things our mind will not be set on the things we must do to make our current life better.

Lot and his wife from Genesis 19 are the perfect example of why to not look back. Yes, both of them, not just Lot’s wife. Verse 16 gives us the example, “When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.” Does the Bible really say Lot hesitated? Why would Lot hesitate? He was the leader of their home. Was it because they didn’t want to leave, they liked their home and friends? Had Lot and his family grown attached to the things around them. Don’t forget they were in a wicked city. Most of us just think of Lot’s wife looking back over her shoulder and turning into a pillar of salt for her disobedience. What would have happened had the angels not grabbed their hands to lead them out of Sodom? They all would have perished with those left in the city.

We must remember that it was after Lot and his daughters reached Zoar, their safety when Lot’s wife looked back. She looked back when she was almost to the place God set aside for them to be safe. The running and hardships were over. Even when our hardships are over we must continue to keep looking forward. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon … no one can serve two masters” Lot’s wife wanted her old way of living in her new city. She wanted to serve two masters – her old ways and God’s ways. When Satan reminds you of your past – remind him of his future. We must keep a renewed mind, and change our stinking thinking.

In verses 17-20 we see that Lot had a faith flaw. “As soon as they had brought them out, one of them 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!” But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.” Lot did not have the faith that he could run to the mountains until he feared for his family’s life in Zoar. His faith was only for a very small town. How big is your faith? Have the faith to take your mountain.
 
When God is leading us to our safety we must keep our faith in Him and not look back. If God tells us to let go of something we must do it for our own good. We can’t look back and hold on. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:20-21
 
As the Spiritual leader of our home, we must lead our family in God’s will and timing. We need more husbands who will step up, lead and say: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

2 comments:

  1. I think as we enter marriage too, we must be careful to not hold on too tightly to the things we had, the people we were when we were single. I touched on that topic here:

    http://eccl-4-12.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-flesh.html

    Great post!

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    Replies
    1. So true, we are to continually transformed into the likeness of Christ - especially as the husband.
      God Bless,

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