When Jesus was teaching His disciples, He told them to “remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32. Out of millions of people in the world, Jesus took her as an example for His disciples. She had lived almost 2,000 years before, but she was one of whom the disciples had heard. Out of her life experience we can learn lessons also. What was special about her?
We read in Genesis 19:26, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” By one look she lost her life and also her eternal life. She had no chance of repentance, no time to feel sorry for her sin. She had been told clearly not to look back. “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that He said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Genesis 19:17
What was there, back in Sodom, to which she wanted to look? Was there not her home, her two married daughters, her belongings, and friends?
The Lord came down from heaven in person to save Lot and his family, and He told them what to do, how to escape the destruction that came upon the four cities.
Jesus gave the same warning to His disciples and to us. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Jesus made it clear, He said, no man, not even one, who looks back will be in heaven.
What is behind, that we should not look back to it? Is there not the world, life in sin, the old life, selfishness, and self-gratification? But what is before us? Is there not Christ leading us, heaven, New Jerusalem, holiness, and perfection? Why would anyone want to look back to change his life unto death, joy unto mourning, happiness to misery, and Christ to Satan? Why does this happen often? It is a mystery.
We read that Jesus had other 70 disciples, whom He sent out to witness to the people, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, wither He Himself would come.” Luke 10:1. But what happened to these disciples? “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66. Only the twelve decided to stay with Him. And out of the twelve, Judas decided to leave Him also. After three and a half years following Jesus, Judas decided to leave Him. He decided that it was more enjoyable to live without Christ. But that same night when he decided to leave the company of Jesus his misery was so great that he decided to end his life.
When the Holy Spirit leaves a person, at the same time his joy and happiness are gone, and never anymore will the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, return to him. When God is shaking His church, only those who have lost the Holy Spirit are shaken out, others will remain, because they did not look back. “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” Amos 9:9
When someone decides to look back, there is a process that takes place before it, which is called backsliding. It is an involuntary act. He does not walk back, no, he is sliding without noticing it himself. He does not look unto Jesus anymore; his eyes are turned away from Him. He does not speak about Him, nor even think of Him. In other words, his love for Christ has died.
When Lot’s wife looked back, she had gone through a process of backsliding. It did not happen from a sudden impulse. This happened to the people of Israel in the time of Jeremiah, “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” Jeremiah 8:5
God loved His people, even in their backslidden condition, and tried to save them. “Through Jeremiah the word of the Lord to His people was: ‘Return, thou backslidden Israel, . . . and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. . . . Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.’ ‘Thou shalt call Me, My Father; and shalt not turn away from Me.’ ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.’ Jeremiah 3:12–14, 19, 22.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 410
Sister White wrote to the church, “There is an astonishing backsliding with God’s people, to whom has been entrusted sacred, holy truth.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 450
If the backsliding continues, finally God will withdraw His protection. “Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evening shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.” Jeremiah 5:6
As soon as we stop progressing higher, that moment we start sliding back. We cannot stay in one position, we either advance or slide backwards.
Backsliding happens in many different ways. One way is indulging our appetite. “Some are indulging lustful appetite which wars against the soul and is a constant hindrance to their spiritual advancement.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 548
Soon they will withdraw themselves from the assemblies of the saints. They lose their interest in the meetings and their love for the truth.
Also, to neglect our prayer connection with God we can lose our faith and start backsliding. “Some of these, through lack of watchfulness and prayer, had lost their faith and the evidence of their connection with God.” –Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 220
“Many an honest, well-meaning person makes no advancement in the Christian life because he does not see the necessity of constantly learning more of Jesus.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 89. Lack of Bible study and neglect of religious meetings causes them to backslide.
Many backslide and lose their faith by associating with unbelievers. “As a rule, those who choose for their friends and companions persons who reject Christ and trample upon God’s law, eventually become of the same mind and spirit.” –The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1000
The results of backsliding, according to Sister White, are: Blindness of mind, hardness of heart, inactivity in the cause of God, separation from God, a restless heart, and misery.
There is a remedy to the backslidden Christian. “By watchfulness and prayer, he may so guard his weakest points that they will become his strongest points.” –Gospel Workers, p. 126
We can go higher and higher every day. By looking to Jesus constantly we gain sanctification and holiness that will guarantee us heaven and eternal life.
Let us keep our eyes looking forward to Jesus, and forget the things that are behind. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife when she looked back. AMEN.
Timo Martin