“When Lot and his wife were running from cursed Sodom to the mountains, to save their lives, it is said that his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt; and yet you see that neither her practice, nor the judgment of God that fell upon her for the same, would cause Lot to look behind him.
I have sometimes wondered at Lot in this particular; his wife looked behind her, and died immediately, but let what would become of her, Lot would not so much as look behind him to see her. We do not read that he did so much as once look where she was, or what was become of her; his heart was indeed upon his journey, and well it might: there was the mountain before him, and the fire and brimstone behind him; his life lay at stake and he had lost it if he had but looked behind him.
Do thou so run: and in thy race remember Lots wife, and remember her doom; and remember for what that doom did overtake her; and remember that God made her an example for all lazy runners, to the end of the world: and take heed thou fall not after the same example.”
– John Bunyan, The Heavenly Footman
Sobering words, my friend. This is stuff we seldom hear today, and actually it’s the very thing we don’t want to hear.
Thank you! Love you!
How wonderful a post Christina! What a great reminder that a person who puts his hand to the plow should not look back. We are to be moving forward in Christ…not looking back at our idols and the things of this world which we have left behind. May we never be found to look back! Thank you for this quote today. Needed that!
“… God made her an example for all lazy runners, to the end of the world: and take heed thou fall not after the same example.”
Sobering words, indeed.
As other have said, this is a sobering reminder. May we take heed.
This is such a powerful example of why the ultimate relationship in our lives is with God, and no one else. Reading this makes me thankful that God has knit me together with family and close friends who continue to run towards Him.
Total trust in God! This is one lesson that stretches me… I want to be like Lot, and really believe–really trust God! Thanks, my dear! Grace and love!
Excellent, Christina-one of my fave songs of the last twenty years is Oasis (tho I don’t like the group!) Don’t look back in anger; it always reminds me of this with Lot’s wife, because of how we can become paralyzed by looking back, which is very much like her turning to a pillar of salt.
(you’re crazy friend who talks in songs!!)