JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T "DO" IT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU DIDN'T DO IT

“...but Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt...” (Genesis 19:26).

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As I continue my journey through his pandemic. I found myself thinking about Lot’s wife and why she turned to a pillar of salt. I also wanted to know how “looking back” caused her instant judgment and demise. I learned that following God is a willful choice MADE from sincerity of heart. The bible encourages us to DENY ourselves, pick up our crosses daily (whatever the struggle may be) and totally FOLLOW GOD (Matthew 16:24). 

Bad choices, for instance, like bad health choices, to me, is a sign that I have ungoverned desires and appetites for things that are NOT good for my health. I noticed how MY MIND would become absorbed with some temporary pleasure or interest. Without knowing it, like Lot’s wife, I am looking back and choosing to indulge in PAST unhealthy behavior. Lot’s wife received “instant” judgement when she turned into a pillar of salt. She chose not to believe God’s instruction “...not to look back...” (Genesis 19:26). 

There is no condemnation “in” Christ, but the person who does NOT believe is CONDEMNED already and the CONDEMNATION is this:  that LIGHT (truth) has come into your life and you (men & women)  “...loved darkness rather than light (truth), because their deeds (behaviors, indulges of the flesh) were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light (truth), neither cometh to the light, lest his (her) deeds should be reproved. But he(she) that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his (her) deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God...” (John 3:18-21). 

Lot’s wife LOOKED BACK and God knew what was “IN” her heart. “…Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…” (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden man(woman) of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “...For from within, out of the heart of man(woman), proceed evil thoughts… wickedness (evil desires, lusts, longings, cravings, ungoverned appetites, etc.)...  All these evil things come from within, and defile a person…” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).   
At that moment, in her heart, Lot’s wife CHOSE. “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…Choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). “…Jesus (God’s Word) said… I am the LIFE…..” (John 11:25 KJV).   

The Word of God came for Lot, his wife, and family, instructing them get out of an UNRIGHTEOUS PLACE, but Lot’s wife LOOKED BACK. It wasn’t the LOOKING that judged her; it was looking upon SODOM and GOMORRAH with lust in her heart. “...You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her(him) in his(her) heart. So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell...” (Matthew 5:27-29).

 “....At the sight...[of Sodom and Gommarah]... she lusted for them...” (Ezekiel 23:16). “...each one is tempted when by his(her) OWN evil desires he(she) is LURED away and enticed...” (James 1:4).  “...But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman (man) with lust has already committed adultery with her(him) in his(her) heart...” (Matthew 5:28). 

 “...: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”...” (John 3:18-21).

“...There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son...” (Matthew 5:27). UNBELIEF judged Lot’s wife and she was turned into a pillar of salt, the same fate that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s people are FREE to make whatever CHOICES they want, but every CHOICE is not good for them, especially if that CHOICE leads them into slavery to SIN (James 4:12).

 Lot’s wife continued to walk with Sodom and Gomorrah, in her heart, meaning she was in agreement with them.  “...Can two walk together, except they be agreed?...” (Amos 3:3). In one commentary, salt was said to represent “friendship with” or UNITED in FRIENDSHIP, which could mean she still had the same affections, sentiments, beliefs, and connections with them. 

You can NOT have friendship with the WORLD and fellowship with God too. Lot’s wife could NOT walk with God and walk contrary to him at the same time. Lot’s wife LEFT physically, but disagreed with God’s instructions in her heart.  Obedience, from the heart, is a requisite with God. “… you hypocrites ...This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6 KJV).  “…for thy heart is not right in the sight of God…” (Acts 8:21 KJV). 

The PRACTICE of sin will always hinder ANYONE from walking in agreement with God. This offense of Lot’s wife begin in her thoughts, which were thoughts of lust for Sodom and Gomorrah.“…As [person] THINKETH within his [or her] heart (thoughts, words, etc), so is he [or she] (actions, behaviors, etc.)…” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). “....At the sight...[of Sodom and Gommarah]... she lusted for them...” (Ezekiel 23:16).

 “...each one is tempted when by his(her) OWN evil desires he(she) is LURED away and enticed...” (James 1:4).  “...But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman (man) with lust has already committed adultery with her(him) in his(her) heart...” (Matthew 5:28). 

“…what fellowship [can God, the Holy Spirit of] righteousness [have]... with unrighteousness? And what communion [can God, the Holy Spirit of]... light [have]...with darkness? And what concord [can God, the HOLY Father of]...Christ [his Living Word have] ...with Belial? Or what part [of a child of God] that believeth [have]...with an infidel (a person who doesn’t believe)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).

“... anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son...” (Matthew 5:27). Lot’s wife became a PILLAR OF SALT and was instantly JUDGED by her UNBELIEF. Some research show that many great philosophers, such as Josephus, saw the PILLAR and many others afterwards for years. 

They said people would come to see the PILLAR, which stood erect near the sea of Sodom, midway to Zoar, and people would chip off or break off a piece of the PILLAR, and somehow it would become whole again. It was even said that someone knocked off a whole hand from the PILLAR, took it away, and when they returned it was whole again. 

People say it is seen to this day, but there is no real evidence since the sixteenth century. Some residents say it was only a myth, or there is no such thing, or it stands in the mountains somewhere(hard and dangerous to get to). She did exist and Jesus makes reference to Lot’s wife in Luke 17:32. Her story was written as a warning for God’s people not to LOOK BACK or TURN BACK, in their hearts and LUST for a LIFE that LEADS to DEATH, DESTRUCTION, and HELL. “...For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning...” (Romans 15:4 KJV). 

 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition..” (1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable ...for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV).   
The moral in this journey of holiness and health. We will live our BEST LIFE, in ALL areas, by willfully choosing to FOLLOW JESUS. “...Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me...” (Matthew 16:24).

We FOLLOW CHRIST by entrusting our WHOLE lives to him, by abiding willfully with him, and keeping his commandments out of wholehearted love, devotion, and respect for HIM, his presence, his goodness, and his HOLY working power

“...He (Jesus) gave (entrusted) Himself (his life) over to Him (God, the Father, the Holy Spirit, etc.) ...” (1 Peter 2:23 KJV).

“...Abide in me, and I in you...  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love...” (John 15:1-10 KJV). “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

WHAT IS THE LESSON FOR ME, PERSONALLY?  That when God instructs me to LEAVE certain parts of my old life BEHIND ME, that I still practice; I want to CHOOSE to obey him and not look back with LUST or LONGING. I do not want to LOOK BACK with plans, in my heart, to GO BACK either. God has given me instructions to FOLLOW HIM and LISTEN to his instructions. 
I want to choose to LISTEN to God. I don’t want to GO BACKWARDS into the place of BONDAGE. God died for me to enjoy a HOLY life and live FREE from the slavery of SIN. I can CHOOSE to live the life God wants me to have by trusting and depending upon his indwelling Holy Spirit to enable me. 
I am also empowered to HOPE which enables me to EXPECT God to do what he says he will do. “…They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). 
God did not come to repair my sinful nature. He came to TOTALLY deliver my SOUL from every single part of it. 
CHOOSE TO FOLLOW GOD'S WORD.
STOP LOOKING BACK TO THOSE SINFUL LIFESTYLES THAT BECKON YOU TO BECOME IMPRISONED AGAIN TO A YOKE OF BONDAGE and DARKNESS. 
WALK IN FREEDOM.  
COME OUT OF THE DARK, LIVE IN HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT!
PRAISE HIM, IT IS FOR  FREEDOM, FROM SIN, THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED TO SET YOU FREE. "DON'T LOOK BACK"