We can’t hold on to the past, but that doesn’t stop us sometimes feeling nostalgic about things which were actually not really good in themselves and not beneficial for us. We think affectionately about situations and behaviours which were in reality unpleasant and sinful, finding them more tantalising than the anticipation of reaching heaven after just a bit more perseverance. Yet Jesus warned us against this, reminding us of the tragic and terrible case of Lot’s wife. The Covenanter John Livingstone preached a sermon on Jesus’ warning. In the following updated extract, Livingstone asks, “What should we remember about Lot’s wife?” He wants us to be sufficiently alarmed by her dreadful mistake that we will not slack off in putting our old sinful ways behind us and pressing on to our safe haven in heaven.

This would seem a very gloomy example that we have to speak of at this time, and yet it is God’s Word, and not unprofitable. Here you have a very necessary memorandum to all generations, “Remember Lot’s wife.” If you remember the history, there came two angels to Sodom to bring Lot, his wife, and his daughters out of the city. Approaching hazard forbade them to look behind them, and yet this poor woman only went and looked back with a longing eye towards Sodom, and she became a pillar of salt.

Memory is a notable servant to Jesus Christ, but, alas! The lack of memory has sent many souls into hell. ‘It’s my nature to be forgetful,’ they say. But I say to them, ‘Woe to you, for you can remember to keep your appointment with the devil, and you can remember foolish tales.’ Our hearts are like a watch which someone takes to a skilled watchmaker asking, ‘Mend this little thing in it.’ But when the watchmaker looks into it, he finds that there is not a single right wheel in it — it’s all wrong. The mind, will, and affection are all gone wrong. The wisdom, understanding and spirit have all gone wrong by our first parents eating the forbidden fruit, though they were warned by God’s express prohibition.

The salvation or damnation of Lot’s wife we shall not, and cannot, determine, for there is such little light on it. But for sure, she is set forth here as a warning to us.

What should we remember about her?

She was married to a good man

Remember that she was the wife of Lot, a good man, and a professed believer in God, brought up and educated in good company. It may be that she was of good upbringing also. But alas! That did not do her any good. Therefore, although your good parentage and good upbringing is a mercy, yet do not boast of it. Though you may have lived for a long time in a good household, what of it?

She was heading to safety

Remember that she was half-way to Zoar, with Sodom burning behind her. Maybe at this point she thought she was past all danger and entirely safe. While the angel took hold of her hand, it’s as if she’s saying, ‘Thanks be to God, I’m now past the worst of it, and nearer to heaven than I was!’

Some may seem to be half-way to heaven, and yet not be on the way at all. The question arises, ‘How far may a reprobate go on in Christianity?’ and yet it is not fitting for a Christian to know this — nor yet how far a Christian may be misled in an evil way, and even go half-way to hell, and more.

But remember Lot’s wife, who was half-way to Zoar, and yet half-way is no way. Not all the blossoms of a tree come to fruit. I don’t say this to make you quit your confidence, but to make you more wary, and not to cast off your armour until you get the victory over your lusts and predominating evils. You don’t know what Satan will do to you before your life is over. Many who have gone a great length have fallen back, and will fall back, in their Christian way, and never come to the camp again. So it is good to stay close to God and His people, and not to go off in unique ways of your own. It’s good to be afraid of saying, ‘I’m now half-way to heaven, I don’t need to be afraid!’

She didn’t do anything very terrible

What did she do? She was neither whore nor thief (as the saying goes). All she did was look back. She just could not go straight on in the way with her husband.

But God does not count things the way we do. He counts something a great sin, which we count only a little one. Who could have thought there would be so much fuss about such a small fault? But see what became of Hezekiah for letting those men in to see the treasures of his house. How angry the Lord was!

But it was because He knew what would come of it. For He doesn’t judge as we do — according to the bulk, or the outside — but what is within the heart. It was such a small thing for Ishmael to smile at Isaac’s weaning. It was such a small thing for Aaron and Miriam to speak against Moses, granting that they were two gracious persons. But not in God’s sight. Many smalls make a large (as we say). If the Lord strictly marks iniquities, who could stand before Him?

She wasn’t motivated to obey

What motivated her to look back, contrary to the Lord’s express command?

Curiosity

It was a piece of her own curiosity. She thought that in this matter she could indulge her own will somewhat. It’s the same with many of us. We virtually say, ‘We are lords, we will come no more to thee.’ Some will even openly say, ‘I can’t think of laying my will flat under God’s will! I can’t endure to have it fully conformed to His!’ But remember Lot’s wife. What folly lurks in our corrupt hearts, opposite to the law of God!

Nostalgia

Old Sodom came into her mind again, just like the Israelites in the wilderness, when they lusted after the onions and garlic they had in Egypt. Wasn’t that strange? For as you know, garlic doesn’t have a very agreeable taste. But what can we say? Anything of Egypt, or Sodom, is good, when we aren’t there any more. Many think, ‘What was I thinking, while was in the acts of my wickedness, that I didn’t get my money’s worth out of it?!’ She was looking back to her old, but bad, companions. Beware of this. Except when needs must, Solomon forbids so much as going in the way with an angry man. The Christian should be like an old pilgrim, with his gown and staff, and if he didn’t get a bed, he would lie on the ground like old Jacob did, with a stone under his head. Instead, your accommodations for back and belly, bed and board, all that Sodom can afford, are the means of destroying you, and pampering you into committing grievous abominations.

Remember Lot’s wife

After all this, you may say, ‘What should we remember about her?’ No good, I warrant you, and therefore the subject is all the more sad to speak about. God made her a spectacle in those days, as He is making some others in our days. This is unlike the apostle Paul, who was like a ‘gazing stock,’ but in his case as a display of the Lord’s mercy, for the instruction and edification of many. You should not look on these spectacles of His wrath in a light manner. Here is an extraordinary work of God’s providence.

Therefore, pray that this would never be the case with you. I say to you who profess to be believers and yet are profane, remember Lot’s wife. The chief thing that draws many of you away is pride in your religion, your understanding, your gifts, your profession, etc. It is not altogether natural pride, but the pride of religion, which wants you to be unique. Get more humility and sobriety, and esteem others better than yourselves, and search and try your hearts. Remember Lot’s wife, and let this be your warning and reminder always.

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