When God delivered Lot from Sodom, Lot really didn’t want to go. God had to literally snatch him out, and gave them a stern warning that they DO NOT LOOK BACK!

Genesis 19:15-17  (NKJV)

¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that ^[a]he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be ^[b]destroyed.”

Looking back implies that you don’t want to go...

Looking back implies that you regret leaving…

Looking back implies that your heart is still there...

We all know what happened to Lot’s wife when she looked back. She turned into a pillar of salt as an extreme example for us of the dangers in LOOKING BACK…

Genesis 19:26  (NKJV)

²⁶ But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Remember what God taught us through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10…

1 Corinthians 10:11  (NKJV)

¹¹ Now ^[a]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our ^[b]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

God doesn’t change. God gets just as angry when we look back as He got when Lot’s wife did. He get’s just as frustrated when want to hang on to what we should let go of.

So, let me warn us of some situations when we should never look back.

IF IT MAKES YOU ANGRY

Unmanaged anger leads to rage and rage leads to hatred and wrath. Wrath is the result of uncontrolled anger. Why continue to look back on things that can lead to greater sin? Why look back on things that can prevent you from forgiving?

IF IT MADE YOU HORNY

We all know that lust leads to a variety of sins, but lust must be fed. It is fed through our senses. What we see…What we hear…What we smell…What we touch…What we taste… So, some pictures or videos you don’t need to see or watch ever again. Some colognes or perfumes you may never need to use again if it reminds you of a relationship that you should not have been in. Some text messages and phone calls you do not need to return..

Don’t look back!

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IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL DEPRESSED

Depression is real, but just like lust it can be fed with the thought on which we choose to linger. So, don’t look back on those triggers that make you feel bad. It could be as simple as you may be depressed that you can’t afford a vacation. Well, then you don’t need to spend time on social media scrolling through people’s vacation pictures and videos if you know it will depress you…Don’t look back!

IF YOU’RE TRYING TO STOP

Remember God had to snatch Lot from Sodom, but He would have much rather that Lot left on his own. The same goes for us. If you are trying to stop a behavior, habit or relationship that you know is displeasing to God, then stop putting yourself in the position to continue. There are some routes home that you may never need to take anymore. If you are trying to stop getting drunk, then stop walking down the aisle in the store with alcoholic beverages, until you’re strong enough. Again, don’t answer that phone call or respond to that text message if you know it’s someone that you need to leave alone. AS A MATTER OF FACT DELETE THEIR NUMBERS AND EMAIL. SINFUL RELATIONSHIPS DON’T NEED CLOSURE. THE NEED FOR CLOSURE IS LOOKING BACK. JUST STOP 🛑…Don’t look back!

IF IT MAKES YOU COVET

We live in a society where covetousness can sneak up on the best of us. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, but an excessive desire for wealth, possessions or something that someone else has leads to what you desire becoming your god…

Colossians 3:5  (NKJV)

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but I think you get the idea. You know you better than anyone. What are some things that can come between you and God that you know you shouldn’t look back at? Looking back can make your weaknesses stronger than your strengths.

DON’T LET YOUR WEAKNESSES OVERPOWER YOUR STRENGTHS…

HOW GOD HELPS US MANAGE OUR WEAKNESSES, LUSTS & VICES…

GOD IS GREATER THAN THE WEAKNESSES THAT HE GAVE YOU…

HOW GOD’S DELIVERANCE HAS BEEN TAUGHT WRONG…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

We have a tendency to categorize sins based on our culture, experiences, perceptions and personal theology. We tend to have BIG sins and little sins.

And, there are even some people who actually even feel that they don’t sin because they feel they aren’t committing the BIG sins.

We have this idea of what’s ‘evil’. When think of ‘evil’ things like violence, illicit sex, porn, drug abuse, physical abuse, oppression, racism, profanity, etc., etc., etc., come to mind.

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However evil is simply that what is contrary to God’s will and falls short of His expectations.

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Think about when Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming death and resurrection what Peter blurted out…in so many words he said, “No way! I got your back!”

Matthew 16:21-23  (NKJV)

 ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ^[a]“Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are ^[b]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Notice how Jesus responded. Even though what Peter said sounded noble, it was contrary to God’s will. That’s was sin. It’s not malicious. It’s not sexual. It’s wasn’t criminal, but it is WAS evil.

Now consider this example I often use. Jesus clearly forbids taking oaths and swearing under any circumstances.

Matthew 5:33-37  (NKJV)

 ³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of ^[a]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let^[b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

But, even the U.S. Constitution demands an oath or affirmation office (President, for example Article II, section 1, clause 8). Now it has become tradition to swear in elected officials, military, law enforcement and sometimes on the very bible that forbids it.

Our culture today values pride and arrogance that is disguised as confidence and sometimes patriotism.

How many times have we ignored a beggar or someone in need?

How many days have we gone without praying for someone else?

How many opportunities to share our faith have we squandered because we were afraid, ashamed. or it just wasn’t a priority. That is the sole reason for many of our interactions and relationships to be God’s representatives.

Remember what Jesus said…

James 4:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 You don’t have to be ‘bad’ to be ‘evil’, and you don’t have break one of the Ten Commandments to sin.

Now is a great time to stop and thank God for His grace and mercy.

BE BLESSTIFIED!