Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Luke 17:32–33
This has to be one of the most disturbing sayings in the Bible, “Remember Lot’s wife”. Jesus had been teaching about what it would be like when He returned to the earth. He reminded them of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Everyone remembers the story but may forget this one part, Abraham had bargained with the Lord for the protection of Lot and his family when Sodom was destroyed. The angels warned Lot and company to flee from the city and not to look back. Lot’s wife looked. It was not just a casual, accidental glance. She loved Sodom and didn’t want to leave it. You know the rest of the story.
Remember, when Jesus said, “remember Lot’s wife”, He was actually talking about His return to the earth and warning His followers about being attached to this world. Longing for this life disqualifies us for the next life. Here are some thoughts from Watchman Nee on today’s verse.
“If I mistake not, this is the one passage in the New Testament that tells of our reaction to the rapture call. In that moment we shall discover our real heart’s treasure. If it is the Lord Himself, there will be no backward look. It is so easy to become more attached to the gifts of God than to the Giver—and even, I may add, to the work of God than to God Himself. But he that is on the housetop is not to go back for his goods. Let me illustrate. I am engaged in writing a book. I have finished eight chapters, and I have another nine to write, about which I am seriously exercised before the Lord. Now suppose the call to “come up hither” were to come and my reaction were to be, “What about my book?” Is it not possible that the precious thing which I am doing downstairs in the house, as it were, might be enough to pin me down, a peg that could hold me to the earth? The question at issue is always, where is my heart?”
Let me ask you straight out, are you ready for the rapture of the church? Jesus is coming, the signs of His return are literally shouting out all around us. We have to set our affections on Jesus and His coming kingdom least we too are unprepared at His sudden return.
