Consider Lot's Wife

Consider Lot's Wife

Genesis 19:26

Introduction: Instructive history - shows

1. How the righteous scarcely are saved
2. His Son in Law's show the way in which the gospel is received by easy careless world.
3. His wife a type of those convicted, but not converted - who flee but perish
4. Angels laying hold of lingering family is type of gracious violent and sovereign mercy which God uses in delivering souls.

First - Direct attention to Lot's wife ans show that many who are quickened to flee from wrath, look behind, and are lost -

I. Many flee under terrors of natural conscience, but when these subside they look back and are lost.

Lot's wife - Not like men of Sodom - dreadful scene, darkness, anxiety of husband, pressing urgency of angels awaken her conscience and make her flee, but her friends, her sons-in-law, her house, her goods, her treasure still in Sodom - anxieties vanished with darkness looked back - pillar of salt.

So with us -
1. Some like men of Sodom - busy - no ears to hear sound of coming wrath.
2. Some like sons-in-law of Lot - shrewd, intelligent men of business think minister speak for themselves - do but just "mock"
3. Some sleep all their days under a worldly ministry
4. Some have season of anxiety about souls - dangerous illness, threatening clouds of providence - stir to flee from wrath to come - lay by sins, pick up Bible, try to pray - soon passes away = "Look back upon such action"

Remember Lot's wife - Learn two things
1. That an awakening by conscience is very different from awakening by Spirit.
2. Learn how far you are from Kingdom of God - quite lost - unmoved, do not weep, do not flee

II. Many flee when friends are fleeing, but look back - lost
anxiety of her husband
Case of Ruth
John the Baptist - scribes and Pharisees

III. Some are laid hold on by God and made to flee, who look back and are lost -
So with Lot's wife - Angels - verse 16
Grace did something for her but not everything - She looked back - so with some of us -
1. Some live in utter ignorance of their lost condition - plead innocence - good lives - never been awakened - The power of God only can awaken
2. Some live in daily practice of sin - who walk in council of ungodly
3. Some live in neglect of means of grace - Some have had hands laid on by Lord and give evidence of such -
a. Have deep sense of lost condition
b. Dare not go back to open sins, dishonesty, swearing, evil speaking, separate from evil companions, filthy conversation. They feel that death is in cup and do not drink it any longer - Is this your case? Then reason to believe you have been awakened by God.
c. Anxious users of means of grace - Bible, pray, nothing keeps them from house of God. Tell others - Is this your case?

Learn from Lot's wife -
1. That you are not saved yet - awakened but lost
2. That God is in no way obligated to bring you to Christ.

A word to those beginning to look back:
A. Some beginning to lose a sense of your wretched and lost condition
B. Some have gone back to old sins
C. Some become careless of Bible, prayer, church attendance