Deuteronomy 26-27, Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, Luke 17: 11-37, Psalm 59: 13-17
Luke 17: 32-33 (ESV)
“Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”
Verses 32 through 33 from Luke 17 are about Jesus telling his
disciples to not be like Lot’s wife when the world ends. I’ve always felt bad
for Lot’s wife. Whether out of morbid curiosity or because she so regretted leaving
her home, she looked back when the angel told her not to and was turned into a
pillar of stone. I think there is that regret in anyone when they are forced to
give up their way of life. You look back with longing and regret at what you
lost, and these feelings prevent you from moving on from your old life and
being happy about your new life. Having these feelings of regret can become a
literal or metaphorical death. Looking back at your old life while running from
it can be dangerous in terms of slowing you down or making you unaware of your
dangerous physical surroundings. But looking back can also represent a
metaphorical death because the loss of familiar surroundings means you can feel
like you are losing a part of your identity. That loss will feel like death. Christ
is saying if you can willing give up your old life, you will be better off in
the long run because you will be able to make a smoother transition into your
new life. But like anything Jesus says, giving anything up takes great faith.
Faith that Christ is leading you to a better life. Faith that tells you God
will provide and take care of you in your new life. Lot’s wife didn’t have this
kind of faith, and she paid a price for it. Christ tells us we must total faith
in him when he comes back to the world, and that our faith will be rewarded in
the end.
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