A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver – Proverbs 25v11
Last week we discussed how important it is not to allow our “history” to prevent us from “finishing strong” for God. We do this by “forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead”-Philippians 3v13.
Today we look at how we need to LEARN from other people’s history – Sir Winston Churchill made the point that “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it”. In Luke 17v2 Jesus warned His hearers to “Remember Lot’s wife.” Why? There are several lessons we can learn from her tragedy, but for the sake of time I am just going to mention one of them. Lot’s wife perished because she lingered and was overcome when she should have been fleeing as fire and brimstone came upon the city of Sodom and engulfed it like Pompei centuries later. The context of the verse was Jesus’ warning of the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 when history tells us that up to a million people were slaughtered by the Romans because they took refuge in the city of Jerusalem thinking it was impregnable and they would be
safe.
However, no Christians died because they believed the words of Jesus and took safety across the River Jordan outside Israel. Lot’s wife had been warned by God to “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!”. Sadly Lot’s wife was a prisoner of the Sodom lifestyle and didn’t truly believe God and suffered the consequences. “But Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt”. God’s Word warns us about the consequences of not taking heed of His warnings of the danger of materialism. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” 1 Timothy 6v10. Friends, remember Lot’s wife and flee from the love of money whether you be rich or poor. If you do so you will be saved from life harming consequences for yourself and family.
Rather believe the Bible which says “Godliness with contentment is great gain”?
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood