Remember Lot's Wife!

A Verse

Luke 17:32-33

Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

A Comment

In speaking of the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus reminds his audience of the tragic death of Lot’s wife as they fled Sodom and Gomorrah. We do not know much about Lot’s wife from the Bible, but the things we know are startling. As Lot and his family fled God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, they were commanded to “not look back.” Lot’s wife, however, looked back at her former city, and when she did, she was judged by the LORD.

Jesus reminds his audience of this event in relation to the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is a way of saying that those who look back on their former way of life, those who miss the days of their rebellion, those who long for how things once were apart from God, and those who do not trust that God’s way is best, they are not ready for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus thus warns them to prepare themselves. But the preparation seems paradoxical. Those who would keep their life will lose it, but those who are willing to lose, to give up their life for the Kingdom, will preserve or gain life.

Lot’s wife serves as a sobering reminder of this principle of not looking back but instead looking forward, with hope and faith in Christ, in God’s fulfillment of His promises to His people.

A Prayer

Would you pray with me?

A Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.