REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 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. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
This is our Lord’s preaching! This is the Lord Jesus Himself warning and preparing us for the day of his return! In the previous verses he warns that the day will be as the days of Noah. And here he warns that it shall be like the days of Lot. Abraham lived in that day, but he is not mentioned in this warning. For Abraham had constantly remember the Lord God in his daily life, judging his own soul accordingly. 1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But of all the warning verses, there is just this one, three-worded verse to give us instruction for our preparation for this awesome day! – Remember Lot’s wife! There is instruction for our actions when that day comes. “Don’t go back into the house to get your stuff!” Thus showing where our heart lies! Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
But that is all the present preparation that is necessary for us in getting ourselves ready for that unique day! We just need to “Remember Lot’s wife!”
Remember that she got out of Sodom. Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without (outside) the city.
But she did not get on to the place of safety, to which the Lord directed them. Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Be careful, dear Reader! The gospel can just make one moral but not righteous! 2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
How many among professed religionists are secret sows? Those who have cleaned up their act, but still having not the new nature of the sheep of God? Therefore still having secret desires of wanting to wallow again in those miry lusts? Are there any among the church attenders that are secret dogs? Having not the new nature of the sheep, therefore still having those urges to go back and lick up those sinful habits that they once professed to have vomited out? 2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Mrs. Lot had been with her husband in Abraham’s family. She had sat and communed with Sarah. She had heard the righteous words of God’s friend, Abraham. She had been recovered with Lot by Abraham’s menfolk after they had been taken captive by the five heathen kings. No one knew, except the Lord, that she, like a Judas, still had the root of wickedness in her heart of love for the world! 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
But the Lord already had provision for both her and Lot. He was fully prepared to “deliver” Lot, but “reserve” her! 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
For the Lord God who looketh upon the heart, knew that she secretly despised having any authority over her! 2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. And He gave her opportunity to reveal her true self in his one commandment, look not behind thee! But how do the scripture state that she revealed herself in this fashion? Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. She lingered behind Lot, dreading to leave the things that are in the world. And having made sure that Lot was not blocking her clear view, she reveals herself by defying the one direct command given her, due to her inordinate affections for her stuff, and her secret desire not to be told what to do! Therefore her love for the world and the things that are in the world proved that she had no love of God within her soul!
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
That look not only defied the Lord’s command, but it revealed her true nature. And it was just as offensive to God as was Eve’s! Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Our Lord instructs us that our love for God must be throughout our entire being. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Therefore it is the believers duty to progress in their sanctification to the subduing of even our minds to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
It is one of the attributes of the sanctified mind to “think no evil”. 1 Corinthians 13:5 (Love) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; And this was exactly how the thief on the cross came to have the Lord “remember” him! For he had previously “reviled” the Lord along with the other thief. Mark 15:32 But he came to have his thoughts brought to think no evil of the Lord. Therefore the Lord did remember him, bringing him, as the first born again believer to enter into the new paradise of God.
Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Also consider these instructions of the Lord to the churches of Asia. Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. That first church is said to have “left her first love.” And she was instructed to “Remember therefore!”
Listen to the Lord God speaking to the nation of Israel who had also left their first love. And do we still have that tender love of our first years of conversion? Jeremiah 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
And this is certainly of great danger to the soul’s of professed believers in this last age! Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Let us seek that our love, in spite of today’s atmosphere of religion’s coldness towards God, should never grow cold, but that a spiritual fervor, as a burning flame shall not only never wax dim, but shall increase in flaming fire to our God; who Himself is a “consuming fire!” Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
The fire speaks of the purity, holiness and glory of God. Acts 17:28 And in him we live, and move, and have our being! Deuteronomy 5:26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Therefore as we live unto him, we become more and more purified as the pollutions of the world which bind us are burned off. Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. The only thing that the flames burned off were the things which bound them.
And how do we become more holy and acceptable unto God? By the “renewing of our minds!” By remembering Him! Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
And we are even instructed by the word of the Lord as to how this may be accomplished. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
As the coals on the altar within the tabernacle were never to go out, so it symbolizes that the believer’s mind and spirit should ever have a consciousness of the Lord God! For how can one pray without ceasing? Or how can we in all things give thanks? Except they be accomplished by a God consciousness.
Our thoughts matter a great deal before the Lord! Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
For why did our Lord command us to observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper? Both the partaking of the bread and the cup are stated for one purpose only! 1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
We must love the Lord with all our minds! Remember Lot’s wife!
Pastor Gene Breed
October 21, 2021