Leave it Behind

Based on Genesis 19-21

"The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:23‭-‬26

In the last reading, Abraham pleaded with the men sent by God to spare Sodom & Gomorrah for even just a few righteous. This intercession caused Lot, his wife & his 2 daughters to be able to flee from the city before the coming destruction. They were told not to look back at the wrath & judgment upon the city, but Lot's wife looked back at the blazing fire & brimstone-and so she became a pillar of salt! She was petrified and preserved in her past-a life of sin & evil which was meant to be left behind. The onset of the new year should be filled with many resolutions, but it should also be filled with a lot of reflection about what should be left behind-behaviors, habits, attitudes...letting go is just as important as taking on new challenges!

"Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32

Even in the New Testament, we are warned to remember Lot's wife! Her story is one of those lessons which should compel us not to turn back to our unhealthy ways, but to turn toward God & leave all that behind! There may be a comfort in those behaviors, even if they are bad for us, simply because it's all we know. But do we want to be stuck solid in a comfort zone, a pillar of salt, unable to grow into the purpose God has planned for us?

"Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer." Genesis 21:18‭-‬20

We must remember Lot's wife, and we must not forget about Hagar either. Although she was sent away from Abraham with her son Ishmael, God promised He would still bless & multiply her generations to come through her son. This is because she served the purpose faithfully which she was meant for at the time, but she obeyed when it was time to move on. She almost gave up & accepted that death might be the only answer, but again, God stepped in & promised life! Don't worry about leaving things behind. Don't worry about starting fresh. Pray & seek God, and He will show you a new way!