Pillar of Salt

STUDY: #878-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: NOVEMBER 17 @ 23, 2015

Topic: "Pillar of Salt" Genesis 19: 22-26 Every step you take is for the good or destruction of life. Abraham let Lot choose, and take what he wanted of the land of Canaan, as they could no longer be together (Genesis 13: 5-6 “Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together."). Neither poverty nor efforts; scarceness, or walking from one place to another in their tasks could separate them. But riches separated Abraham and Lot! Their servants fought each other to get the best pasture, and water for their livestock. And before the peace between Abraham and Lot would rupture, they decided it was best to separate. But even so, Abraham would remain as an older brother to Lot. Lot went toward Sodom, and lived there among very sinful people. BUT ABRAHAM REMAINED WITH GOD, NOT JOINING ANYBODY. Later, God decided to destroy the city of Sodom because of their abhorrent, and multiple sins. And there was Lot, with his family; in that city full of evil that was about to be destroyed by God. Lot had neglected himself and his people by deciding to live among the wicked, which Abraham did not do. If our loved ones are going to be for the Lord, they must be carefully fed and bred, in the best spiritual environment. If our children or grandchildren have their everyday things; they wear their uniforms, have their books, etc. it’s because of God's blessing. So you should understand this well by knowing the Lord, being taught, and trained in all that is "His work." Lot failed to do this! Abraham taught, and guided his family in their belief in God. Abraham learned of God's plan to judge and destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:17, 20-21). So, wanting to save Lot and his family, Abraham begged God. (Genesis 18:23-24 “Then Abraham approached Him and said, ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are FIFTY RIGHTEOUS people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the FIFTY RIGHTEOUS people in it?’” And God granted his request. But Abraham insisted by lowering the number to TEN. (Genesis 18:32 “Then he said, ‘May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?’” Abraham could’ve thought that perhaps there were a total of ten to Lot’s family. Let us understand that it wasn’t that Lot was not a just man. He just happened to stop teaching of the God that he knew, and Abraham knew too well. LOT CONDITIONED HIMSELF TO THE WAYS OF THE WORLD! The hard part was not teaching his loved ones. But Lot permitted too many things, and what the people of Sodom influenced over his family became stronger than what he accomplished with his religious beliefs. That generation of Sodom was wicked and sinned against God (Genesis 13:13). They were vile. But Lot's wife became familiar with them; even what they did grew acceptable. She did not abhor all the evil that was in Sodom. (Genesis 19:24 "Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of the heavens.") When God finally sent punishment, Sodom was burned and ruined. The smoke rose to the sky,

and as the woman escaped running out of the city, along with Lot, it’s as if she had a "hidden lament." AND SHE LOOKED BACK! (Genesis 19:26 "But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.") It was the concealed sin within her. While she lived in Sodom, she did not want anyone to know, to avoid problems. What silence she nested in her heart! She had hidden very well her heart’s desires! And of course, Lot wasn’t enough of a warrior to stand up against her and the rest of the family, and show them his abhorrence for those full of sin. Sodom was wicked, and sinned against God. (Genesis 13:13). "Remember Lot's wife. Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it; and whoever loses their life will preserve it."(Luke 17:32-33). We must provide our heart to lose our lives (the earthly, of this sinful world) in order to win (the life of God and eternal). Because those who win it (the worldly) will lose it (that of God and eternal). You cannot turn back to look for what is in the world; the world is wicked and sinful against God. Why do you laugh at their jokes; when there should be a distancing? The just are warned not to turn back from their justice. Lot's wife looked back, behind his back; disobeying an express commandment (said clearly and openly) (Genesis 19:17 "As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away.’") What was left? Their goods? By looking back, you were CLEARLY INCLINED TO GOING BACK. And this is why our Savior uses Lot's wife as an example of how he admonishes us for the apostasy of our Christian profession. In doing our part, we have renounced to the world and the flesh; and we have "set our sights towards Heaven." We are like Lot, and his loved ones "on the plain," in a status of test. If we go back to what we profess having given up; we will face great danger. THOSE WHO LOOK BACK WILL BE PUNISHED! The punishment for Lot's wife: SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT! The Lord did not turn a blind eye to her sin of disobedience, but made her "a monument of warning to all who go back to the things of this world." Looking back is so dangerous! Let’s move forward to what lies ahead, continuing towards the goal. It is clear from Philippians 3:1314. "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ." What was left behind? But sin, shame and everything that is loss? The world does not compare in anything to the SUPREME CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST! I respond to His calling; to live a holy life! I'm never going to be a pillar of salt! Amen.