Don’t Look Back

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Scripture: Luke 17:30-33 (ESV)

30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

Devotion:

            Luke records for us what it will be like on the day the Lord returns to save his people. The people who are alive in that glorious day and are watching for his return will know that the day is at hand. Luke offers their life in opposition to those who are not waiting and prepared for the Lord’s return. They will be destroyed because they have not kept alert to what God was doing in the last days. They will perish much as the world did in the day of Noah and the great flood.

            Even so, the people who are aware of the Lord’s coming must be prepared to leave every material thing behind. There is no going back after any material thing. They are to be ready to abandon it all for the Lord’s sake and follow him in the consummation of all things. We are given the warning of Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26) who turned back to view the destruction of Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. She no doubt was attracted to the life she lived in Sodom and still desired to live there. God’s salvation of Lot and his family had not yet captivated her heart.

            So, it is with us today. The thought of leaving behind the amazing comforts and benefits of living in our modern-day world seems impossible. We have been spoiled by instant creature comforts and on demand entertainment. I must tell the truth that without the modern computer and its word processing program I would be at a loss to communicate with you. My handwriting has gotten so bad that it is not legible. And it would take so long to write everything out by hand I would never get around to it. Living without these things I would have given up writing long ago.

            What are the signs of the end of times? We are not given a specific list, but I believe they will be unmistakable to those who are watching and waiting for them. Death, destruction, and general lawlessness will be widespread over all the earth. There will be signs in the heavens and signs on the earth will occur. There will be wars, famines, and general economic turmoil among mankind. All together these signs may be the precursors of the end. Let us pray that we will be delivered from the tribulations that are to come.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven open the eyes of our heart to see your world as it truly is. Help us respond to be salt and light in a world that is increasingly hostile to you and your Son. Grant us hearts of love that we may reach out to this lost, hurting, and dying world we see around us. Prepare us for the end of all things that you have warned us to prepare for. Give us hearts of wisdom to meet this age. Amen.

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