## Remember Lot's Wife

## Genesis 19:1-17

In explanation of the certainty and suddenness of His coming, Jesus uses the example of the sudden destruction of Sodom and Gommorah as a warning for all to be ready in the last days.

In Lot's day we understand that immorality was the rule rather than the exception, at least in Sodom. For this reason God sent angels into Sodom to rescue Lot before destroying it with fire and brimstone.

Jesus said that Sodom was caught unprepared as they went about their normal routine. They ate, drank, bought, sold, planted and built right up to the moment when the fire fell from heaven and destroyed them. That was tragic, however, in verse 32 we see something I believe is even more tragic than that. We are exhorted to "Remember Lot's Wife." Why should we remember her?

(Luke 17:32) "Remember Lot's wife."

I. Remember That She Perished

A. Even though the wife of a righteous man

1. Lot wasn't all that he should have been.

2. He made some very wrong choices.

3. He was much too concerned about worldly things.

4. His influence over his family was not what it should be.

5. Yet, Peter said that Lot was a "righteous man". Cf. 2 Peter 2:7-8. 6. There are many modern day Lots.

B. Just because a person is surrounded by righteous people, it will not make them a righteous person.

1. Lot's wife perished because she made the wrong personal choice.

2. It was up to her to obey the instructions of the angels to leave and not look back.

3. It was not up to Lot to forcibly drag her from the city.

4. Many today will perish and lose it all in spite of being influenced by Godly people.

5. Placing our trust in the means of Salvation is still done personally.

(Rom 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

C. Remember Lot's wife as reminder of the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

II. Remember She Perished Being Warned of the Danger.

A. God gave Lot and his family every opportunity to leave.

1. They still lingered in Sodom. Cf. Gen. 19:16

2. They finally had to be led out of the city by the hand.

B. Lot's wife was reluctant to believe God.

1. She heard the message of doom.

2. She heard, but did not really believe.

3. In fact, the reason she perished was because she stopped to see if it would really happen.

C. Many still will not believe the Word.

1. God's Word is clear that those who reject Christ will spend eternity in hell.

2. But many still doubt the Word, clinging to false hope.

3. How often have you heard, "God will understand…"

4. "God is not going to send anyone to hell!"

5. Unfortunately some still hear the warnings, but will not believe them.

III. Because She Perished Looking Back

A. She made an effort to be saved.

1. In it she was only committed in her mind.

2. She was partly convinced but not converted.

3. Her body was outside the city but her heart was back in Sodom.

4. She wasn't partaker of their evil deeds but she still loved the things of the world.

B. She looked back because she did not believe God.

1. She was commanded "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee."

2. She only broke that one command, surely God was being too harsh with her.

3. Lost sinners perish not because of the number of their sins, but because of the nature of their sin.

4. The Scriptures teach that 'all have sinned', it isn't a matter of how much.

(Rom 5:12) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

C. She was almost saved from destruction.

1. Almost wasn't good enough then, and it isn't good enough today.

2. King Agrippa told Paul that he was 'Almost persuaded to be a Christian'.

Almost cannot avail; almost is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail; "Almost but lost!"

Jesus said, 'Remember Lot's wife.' Not her name, nor how she lived her life. We are to remember how she died. She died in unbelief, disobedient to God's Word. God is not willing that any should perish, but if we neglect to heed His warnings we will suffer the consequences.

Do not delay, trust Christ today! Obey the Lord.