Todays readings… 1 Chronicles 7, Ezekiel 26,

“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE” 

The account of the destruction of Sodom and the ‘last minute’ deliverance of Lot and his daughters is a well-known part of Bible history.  Also known – is how” Lot’s wife … looked back” [Gen. 19 v.26] and failed to escape the destruction. “Two angels came” [v.1] to deliver them but “Lot’s wife … looked back” – she was too attached to life in Sodom.

In our 17th chapter in Luke today Jesus made a strange answer to the Pharisees when they asked him  “when the kingdom of God would come” Jesus “answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” [v.20,21]  We take that to mean, the unrecognised king of the kingdom is in their midst. 

Jesus then gives his disciples a challenging vision of the future – surely this is real! Jesus first warns them “…they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.” [v.23]..  This is a warning about false prophets – see Mark 13 v.22.

That warning has applied through the centuries, but now that the Jews are back in Jerusalem – (note ch. 21 v.24) then we need to be prepared for the fulfilment of the awesome words in Luke’s next verse (24) For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.”

But this was not to happen then to Jesus, for “first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” [v.25] ‘This generation” has continue until our days. How few genuinely accept him – from their hearts – today!? 

What a graphic ‘picture’ Jesus ends his discourse with!!  It seems to fit so well the attitudes in the world we see all around us today!  Jesus says, “just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom …” [v.28,29] Then came destruction!

Then Jesus says, “so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed … Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” 

Let us “remember” what happen to “Lot’s wife” let us also “remember” the words of Jesus we read in Luke ch. 9 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him (or her) will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes…” [v.24-26]