As I was reading Genesis 19 today, I was struck again by the final result of Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom. In the beginning he was still in the plains, only looking towards Sodom. Now we find that he's not living on the outskirts anymore. He's IN the city! And his daughters have married the local men. He is well invested in his life there...
And then the angels from heaven (disguised as two travelers) come to his home and tell him it's time to leave, as fire is about to fall on this city of wickedness. But Lot lingers...and his hesitancy actually cost his wife's life.
Ellen White writes, "If Lot himself had manifested no hesitancy to obey the angels’ warning, but had earnestly fled toward the mountains, without one word of pleading or remonstrance, his wife also would have made her escape. The influence of his example would have saved her from the sin that sealed her doom. But his hesitancy and delay caused her to lightly regard the divine warning. While her body was upon the plain, her heart clung to Sodom, and she perished with it." (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 161).
I'm reminded that there are things God tells us to leave behind as He urges us to let go of the world and take the narrow path toward heaven (Narrow path referred to in today's reading of Matthew 7). Will we obey His command and go forward with full heart, or will we keep looking longingly back at the things He's asked us to leave behind... ??
I say it's time we go forward and STOP looking back! If God is taking something from us or asking us to walk away from dreams, opportunities, treasures, or something else significant, it's probably because it's getting in the way of our receiving eternal life. So don't look back. Go forward! He has your best interest at heart--and mine too!
Tomorrow's reading: Gen. 20-21 and Matthew 8
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