The story of Lot comes from the book of Genesis, when he and his wife were commanded to leave the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah. As they left, perhaps as the city of their childhood was nearly out of view or maybe as they were just outside the city gates, Lot's wife turned to look back and became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Lot's wife "doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently, she thought that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as what she was leaving behind" (Holland, 2010).
How many times in our lives do we have the opportunity to move forward, to start over, to repent or make changes, and when we are the cusp of that movement we turn, perhaps because of the comfort or ease of yesterday or possibly the fear of the unknown future, and linger in the past?
Even when that past is riddled with mistakes and misfortune, there seems to be a difficulty to let go, move on, and press forward. For me, it typifies a lack of hope, or more explicitly a lack of faith that God truly can guide my future and has something better waiting for me.
I can't count the number of times I have wished for a crystal ball, a way to foretell the future and thereby make the "correct" choice. Only God knows where I am headed, or where I have the potential to end up. By clinging to and dwelling on the past, I cloud my ability to find peace and joy in the potential of my future.
In Bonds that Make Us Free, Warner (2001) discusses a situation in which a friend has two potential positive choices to make, to stay with his current employment, where he had worked hard to create a positive team-oriented work environment, or to take a new job, where he had the potential for personal recognition. Warner's response to this gentleman was, “Whichever choice you make, a part of you is going to die. The only question is, Which part?” (p.56).
As I look at the options that sit in front of me, I feel somewhat paralyzed by fear to make a choice. This fear causes me to drag my feet, wait for the decision to be made for me, or wish for things to change so the choice won't have to be made. I know full well that whatever I choose, a part of me is going to die. While I have started to mourn that potential death, I haven't yet given myself over to embracing the birth of something new. To do so, I must replace my fear with hope; I must give my will over to the Lord and find faith to go forward.
For myself and for any of you who might feel the same way, I will leave you with the closing paragraphs of the article:
Some of you may wonder: Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to stay in the past?
To all such of every generation, I call out, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11).
Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year’s resolution I ask you to keep. (Holland, 2010)
"Look Not Behind Thee"
