Don’t Look Back

 

Don’t Look Back

I am reminded of Lot and Abraham and how Lot pitched his tent toward two wicked cities. Lot became an important person and often stood at the gate giving advice.

God spoke to Abraham telling him that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, but Abraham protested and bargained with God. Finally God told Abraham, I will save Lot and his family but no one else.

God sent two angels to warn Lot - - and the evil of the city revealed itself as the men both young and old came to Lot’s door demanding that he give them the two men so that they could have relations with them. Finally the angels pulled Lot back inside the home, and blinded all the men so that they could not find the door and eventually the wicked men left.

Lot warned his son-in-laws who were pledged to marry his daughters that they must flee, because the city was soon to be destroyed, but they only scoffed and refused to believe. So Lot gathered his wife and two daughters but the angels had to finally take their hands and lead them out, because they hesitated to leave that sinful city.

Genesis 19:17 As soon as the angels got the family outside, one of the angels loudly commanded; "Run for your lives!  Don't look back and don't stop anywhere on the plain! Run to the mountains, or you will be swept away!"

Genesis 19:24, 26 Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. But Lot's wife lingered behind her husband, remembering all the exciting times she had enjoyed in that city of sin. And she turned and looked back and the Bible records that she became a pillar of salt.

She was nameless, only known as Lot’s wife, but she hesitated to leave the place that had been home to her these many years. Sin was familiar to her, and she had friends and affiliations with groups and she was of importance in these places. She was given an opportunity to change by leaving and begin anew, but no she paused, and delayed, and finally looked back wishing for the old life that she was so familiar with.

We can learn from this story that when we leave the past - - it is not good to look back.

The reason some look back is that they were content with their old life. The spirits that controlled them were familiar and were like friends. The Bible calls them “familiar spirits.”

How can we apply this to our city as we pray? Unknowingly many have made agreements and contracts with the devil and with sinful lifestyles including habits and addictions, but God wants to destroy those contracts in His fire.

Colossians 2:14-15 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told Jesus of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Do you Suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.  Jesus believed in repentance and leaving the old life behind and not looking back.

Today, many in our land are bound with chains of huge debts of sin and bondage that they cannot pay. I am here to declare today, your debt of sin has been taken care of on the cross. Understand that Jesus paid the price for your salvation when He died on that bloody cross. However, although Jesus has paid for and forgiven mine and your sins, we must each humbly come to the cross, repent and receive the forgiveness He freely offers. Yes we must be willing to turn away from our past and invite Jesus into our life.

The Bible declares in John 1:12, But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Jesus is waiting for you to come-as-you-are to the cross and receive his eternal life and to serve him all the days of your life. All it takes is a plain and simple invitation from you for Jesus to come into your life - - Simply tell Jesus that you believe he is the Son of God, that you believe he died on the cross for you, that he rose from the dead, and that you will follow Him all the days of your life.

Then No Turning or Looking Back - - only go forward with a New Life IN Christ Jesus.