REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE

“In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:31-33 (KJV)

The walk of faith is not a bed of roses. It’s not a life of worldly comfort, luxury and sleep. It is a constant battle with sin and the devil where we constantly lose our lives, suffer in our bodies, die to ourselves and sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Many have fallen away from the grace of God because they sought to save their lives. They sought for riches, honor, luxury, pleasure and so on. Their hearts have been grasped by the world and they are not able to let go. They have fallen into friendship with the world. The Bible says in James 4:4 that whoever would be a friend of the world is an enemy of God and in Galatians 5:17 that the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary to one another. This is to say that a desire to be in the world is against God. You cannot be in love with the world and be in love with God. These are two contradicting forces.

Friendship with the world is an attempt to save your life but Jesus warned them not to seek to preserve their lives. The life of a Christian is not here on this earth. It is a life that is hidden in Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) and Paul in Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life I live now in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me.” Paul says that it is not his life but it is Christ that lives in him. The lives we live now are not our lives. It is Jesus living in us. It is God walking on the surface of the earth to do His will. And His will is not to befriend the world but save it.

Many Christians keep drawing back again and again because of a desire to preserve their lives in this world but the writer of the book of Hebrews says that we are not of them that draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39). Christians need to remember lot’s wife, who was not willing to strive unto salvation but turned back unto death. They are not willing to sell all that they have for the sake of following Jesus. Striving to live the life of Christ is essential in our walk of faith. It is the striving that completes us and makes us perfect. Let’s take a look at a scripture in Matthew 19:16-22.

“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

This rich young man had it all. The text says that he had great possession. Probably had lots of gold, silver, precious pearls and rubies and all the money he could ever wish for but Jesus said if he is to be made perfect, he has to lose all his possessions (LOSE HIS LIFE). This man’s friendship with the world withheld him from following Jesus. He prized his possessions above treasure in heaven. Jesus promised him treasure in heaven but he valued his earthly riches far above the promise of God.

Many believers today are trading away their salvation for earthly pleasures and riches. We keep looking back at our former lives. We do not see the treasure that God is holding unto for us. We do not see the value of eternal blessing over earthly riches. We have been blinded just as the Laodecian church was and have become lukewarm. We are not able to go all out for God. We need to come to a place where we take joyfully the afflictions of this world, the pain, hunger, fastings, beatings, ridicule, shame and reproach because our confidence to withstand these things has great reward before God (Hebrews 10:32-39). We need to remember lot’s wife.

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 By Samuel Entsua ©2014-2017 Christ for Humanity Outreach 

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