Tag Archives: Lot’s wife

Remember Lot’s Wife

Jesus spoke these words in the context of foretelling the impending doom of that once faithful city of Jerusalem (Luke 17:28-32). Because of that generation’s rejection of Messiah (Luke 17:25), He would reject them and would have them in derision (Ps. 2:1-4). No city that the Lord does not guard, can be defended if the Lord is against it (Ps. 127:1). Just as the walls of Jericho fell flat, every city or nation or individual that exalts itself against God will face the judgement of God. Those who hesitate to leave such ungodliness or willfully return back to it will be destroyed. That is the significance of remembering Lot’s wife.

Even though she was with Lot when the family left the city, Lot’s wife’s heart remained in Sodom. She apparently returned to the city for some reason, possibly to retrieve some possession, if we are to judge by the Lord’s use of the account (Luke 17:31,32), but tarried too long and was consumed by the fire and the brimstone and was eventually encrusted in salt. The Lord did everything He could do to save them, even taking them by the hand to lead them out when they lingered (Gen. 19:16). But when a heart is wedded to some sin, even the Lord cannot save! Remember Lot’s wife.

Sometimes, as Christians, we still retain a desire for some old sin. Just as the kings of ancient Judah failed to remove the high places, so too do we retain altars to some past sin (I Kings 22:43; II Kings 12:3). We refuse to tear them down, to remove them from our life. Jesus warned against trying to serve two masters, saying that it cannot be done (Matt. 6:24). Rather we must flee! Flee fornication (I Cor. 6:18)! Flee idolatry (I Cor. 10:14)! Flee the love of money (I Tim. 6:11)! Flee youthful lusts (II Tim. 2:22)! Flee and don’t turn back! Remember Lot’s wife!

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain were wicked. Their sin was very grievous (Gen. 18:20). Amongst their trespasses was the grievous sin which would bear their name: sodomy. God rained down fire and brimstone on those cities because of their unchecked and unrepented transgressions (Gen. 19:29). How could we expect any nation today that fully embraces such sins as caused the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to escape the judgement of God? Add to this the murder of 1.21 million innocent children every year and America’s sins are compounded. America must wake up and repent or else God will most certainly judge her for her transgressions. Remember Lot’s wife!

Eric L. Padgett