LOT'S WIFE

Heaviness in the heart makes the thoughts within it restless, sleep is lost and quietness is absent. Except the Lord helps us we have no hope of what tomorrow shall be. A restless soul knows nothing of peace and tranquility. Serenity is far from the abode of the man in whose heart the cares of this world are residing. If the Lord had left us to ourselves, we would have lost the most important gifts of all - that's life. There have been some times when upon our beds we couldn't lay still because of burdens and responsibilities. To worsen the situation, the archive of our sins added more salt to the wound making us to be in pain as we groan.

No one knows the importance and significance of health like that man who had been sick. No soul knows better the essence of being found like that creature to whom the saving grace of God found. To be lost is an awful experience but what a glorious and blissful ecstasy it is to be found. We couldn't have done these things by ourselves except the Lord is with us all through. Therefore, let us thank God the more for giving us health, salvation and protecting us day and night. Hallelujah!

Today we shall check through the life of one human and see what we can learn as the Spirit of God teaches us and brings the mind of Christ to us about this subject. We plead with your Spirit to please study the nineteenth chapter of Genesis as we continue. Many of us have known the woman (Lot's wife) for one peculiar reason which is LOOKING BACK.

I beseech you, let's take it from another perspective. If you say a man is good, to an extent take it or leave it, there must be a good woman behind him. Or haven't you read about another man about whom it is written that, "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up - 1 Kings 21:25. Today we are not going to blame the woman because we are not in the position of a judge to do so. And if you desire to blame her, we have this for you, "...Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

BEHOLD NOW, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHICH HAVE NOT KNOWN MAN; LET ME, I PRAY YOU, BRING THEM OUT UNTO YOU, AND DO YE TO THEM AS IS GOOD IN YOUR EYES: ONLY UNTO THESE MEN DO NOTHING; FOR THEREFORE CAME THEY UNDER THE SHADOW OF MY ROOF - Genesis 19:8

If you call that woman a fool unto whom there was no previous examples, what should we be called that have read about her, we have heard the words of Christ for ourselves? We should be the greatest fools for repeating what she did. And if you still have delight to blame her, here this again from the very mouth of Jesus to you this morning, "...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

With the help of his wife though, Lot was able to have daughters that didn't know man in the land of Sodom. You said what? Yes, virgins. In the land of Sodom. What excuse do you have sister for losing your virginity...? Is your environment worse than Sodom or more ungodly like Gomorrah? Oh, sorry we aren't blaming you ooo. That must have been a godly feat to keep. Many of us are not seeing his wife in the picture. This was a woman who stood by her husband. She must have taught them the precepts and ordinances of the Lord according to what God instructed them. Yet we are not seeing this, all we had our attention on was her looking back.

Do you know that it was after her looking back that her daughters and husband made a terrible mistake? You see how effective and important that woman must have been to that family. Yet it was her looking back that overwhelmed us. Before then, Lot was known to be godly and upright all the way through not until her wife's demise.

Let's deduce some lessons here: First, we must acknowledge that good works alone are not enough and they cannot save. The woman must have done some things in the past which were good but her disobedience was pivotal to her punishment. Secondly, for every act of disobedience, the consequences may not be upon us alone but upon our loved ones as well. Two are better than one says Ecclesiastes but the same book says "...one sinner destroyed much good."

Lastly, at some points, our hearts may be drawn to look back. Before you blame that woman, ask yourself, "haven't I looked back sometimes?" The cares of the world, the passion we have for things in it and the glamours present therein may want to envelope our attention even when God is calling us out of them. This is where we need to take heed lest we be like that woman. Let us fix our eyes on Christ the Saviour.

He saved us from Sodom. He would lead us to where we shall be saved only we shouldn't look back. It would be an act not common with God to start His work and not finish it. Had He rescued us from Sodom, would He not save us to the uttermost.

A word for the lover of the world more than the word of God. This Sodom shall perish one day. I know not when but it shall surely melt away. Listen, your good works aren't going to help except you do the will of the Father. Yes, it appears as if for the time being, all you would ever need is in the world. Is that why you look back? It only appears to be so, it is not real. The enjoyment you think the earthly things afford are only delusional. When the time comes, there shall be fire upon all of them melting and burning them off. Now, obey the instructions given you by the Lord Jesus calling you to come out of it...Except you obey and be born again, good works alone aren't enough.

LEARNING GREETINGS TO YOU ALL.

Happy Weekend!