Burned In The Fire…
Sometimes we fall into the trap of reminiscing on our before Christ days. Every time I catch myself reminiscing I’m reminded of Lot’s wife.
In Genesis Chapter 19, Lots wife's life was being spared from being destroyed in a city she lived in called Sodom. God showed Lot’s family mercy to allow them to flee before the city of Sodom was destroyed. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt once she looked back at the city being destroyed knowing the angels informed them to not look back and don’t stop anywhere.
It is a reason we are to never look back and to keep going on… that will help us not to be destroyed by sin.
I recently had a night where I looked back. I found an old journal of mine and as I was reading, I found something I wrote to be quite hilarious and it put a sincere smile on my face. However, as I kept reading I was reminded of the dark place I was in and my laugh went to sorrow quickly. God was already healing my past hurt so why did I reopen that wound? Yes, those are memories of mine but why should I look back at the place God has delivered me from? When that place only destroyed me.
Lots's wife looked back at her home but she forgot why it was being destroyed and who showed her mercy to leave. I understand now this is what many of us do in our walk with God.
For great reason, Sodom was being destroyed… remember why God has saved you from that place that you are looking back on.
God saved us and we have the opportunity to live life to the full one day in His kingdom in very the room He is preparing for us. Lot’s wife was headed in a new direction because of God’s grace but looked back on once was… let’s not make that same mistake.
If you are ready to fulfill God’s call on your life you can’t look back.
In Luke 9:62 Jesus stated, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Why look back when we know the truth? Once you know the truth you should never want to look back on lies and deceitful things that seem good but lead to sorrow and sin. You can not answer God’s call when you refuse to hang up on your past that's on the other line. In your walk consider your past burned in the fire and think of this verse from Isaiah 43:18 -19 that says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.“
Keep in your heart that God will remove you from places you are not meant to be.
Reminiscing seems cool until wickedness starts to reveal itself again. I opened up a wound that I need God to patch up again.
It is not worth one more look.
Meditate on these verses:
Philippians 2:13-14
Hebrew 10:39
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray for the person who is reading this. I pray you remind them to keep their eyes on you and that they will answer your call. Father, forgive us when we look back on the very things your grace has saved us from. Thank you for making things new and for your mercy to give us a chance to flee from sin. You are preparing us for your Kingdom and I pray we are always reminded of that. In Jesus name we pray Amen.