With the New Year approaching, I thought it was only appropriate to end 2017 with the Promise of New Life. Often when the end of the year comes we look back and reflect on what the outgoing year has held. We review the sorrows and the joys; the successes and the failures. We mourn opportunities lost and we think "coulda, woulda, shoulda." Looking backward is a way to evaluate "lessons learned" so we don't make the same mistakes twice, and it is a way to overlook and miss out on the oppurtinities presented to us here and now.
One of the stories of the Bible that has always fascinated me is the story of Lot and his wife being told to leave Sodom by the Angels of the Lord. The Angels of the Lord were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sin and evil that dwelt there. The angels told Lot to take his wife and family and leave the city and flee to the mountains so they would not be destroyed too. The angels also said, "Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain." (Genesis 19: 17). What fascinates me about this story is in Genesis 19:12 the angels approached Lot and asked who else he has in the city. They tell him to take those with him out of the city. Lot then speaks to his sons-in-law and tells them to leave with his daughters because the Lord was going to destroy the city. They thought he was joking and they made no move to leave. In reading the story in Genesis 19 you will also the angels again spoke to Lot and told him to take his wife and his daughters (no mention of the sons-in-law this time) and leave the city. He did not immediately go. In fact, verse 16 said he lingered. And while he lingered the angels actually took his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters and brought them out of the city because the Lord was being merciful to them. The angels again told them to escape to the mountains. Lot argued with them and asked to go to another city instead because he feared what might happen to him in the mountains. The angels agreed, but told him in v.22 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Even though they were there to carry out the judgment of the Lord on the two cities, they could do nothing until Lot and his family were out of harm's way because of God's mercy toward Lot.
Not only did Lot tarry and not immediately do as the angels told him to, but they had to physically lead him and his family outside the city so they would begin the journey of escape. Lot also did not want to go to the place where he would be assured safety. He wanted to go to a place of his choosing. The angel of the Lord told him to go that he could not do anything until Lot had escaped. How often do we linger in the past and continue to look back at what could have been, or what should have been, or what would have been "only if.."? How often are we like Lot and we ask not to go where our safety is assured and danger can't harm us, but instead ask to go where we want to go and settle for something less than what God has provided? How often do we delay God's blessing because we do not immediately obey instructions He has given to us?
So, as this new year approaches, don't look backward at 2017. Instead, look forward. The new year brings the promise of new life in the things God has prepared for us. Look at John 1.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Our life is in Him. He has made us alive through grace.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Not only are we saved by grace, but we have hope in the new life that God is giving us. (See the post The Promise of Hope). We know the enemy comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. We know that Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly.
What does any of this have to do with Lot or even with new life? God gave Lot and his family an opportunity to live. By God's mercy He was willing to spare Lot and his family because of Lot's faithfulness to the Lord. BUT the family had to be physically led out of the place of destruction to safety, and they lived...except for the one that looked back. The one that looked back turned to a pillar of salt. The bible doesn't really expand on why Lot's wife looked back. It just states that she did. I would have to guess she was mourning leaving her home and the place where she and Lot had chosen to settle after the long journey with Abraham. Don't we do that? Don't we look back and mourn the place we are leaving instead of rejoicing for the new life that is to come when God calls us out of the place we are?
As the new year quickly approaches, I would urge you to not look back at what has been. Instead, keep your focus on the place God is calling you to.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
We cannot seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness if we are looking back. We cannot participate in the New life He has given us as new creations if we are looking back.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
So, look forward and seek the kingdom of God as this new year approaches. Enter into the new year not looking back, but instead boldly and with confidence knowing that Jeremiah 29:11 is true. Step with confidence forward into the new life of the new year because the old things have all passed away! All things have become new. Will your circumstances be any different on January 1 than they will be on December 31? No. Probably not. But your attitude can be. Your thoughts can be . Your focus can be. This is a time of rejoicing and anticipation of what God will do. It is not a time of sorrow for what has been.
So, today, I pray that going into this weekend and preparing for New Year's celebration parties or whatever you have going on that none of us lose sight of the fact that the new year is just one way God is moving us forward and into the plan He was prepared for us. His plan for us is so much more than we could wish for or plan for ourselves.
Have a blessed weekend, a safe and happy new year. May God touch your heart and bless you abundantly.
One of the stories of the Bible that has always fascinated me is the story of Lot and his wife being told to leave Sodom by the Angels of the Lord. The Angels of the Lord were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sin and evil that dwelt there. The angels told Lot to take his wife and family and leave the city and flee to the mountains so they would not be destroyed too. The angels also said, "Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain." (Genesis 19: 17). What fascinates me about this story is in Genesis 19:12 the angels approached Lot and asked who else he has in the city. They tell him to take those with him out of the city. Lot then speaks to his sons-in-law and tells them to leave with his daughters because the Lord was going to destroy the city. They thought he was joking and they made no move to leave. In reading the story in Genesis 19 you will also the angels again spoke to Lot and told him to take his wife and his daughters (no mention of the sons-in-law this time) and leave the city. He did not immediately go. In fact, verse 16 said he lingered. And while he lingered the angels actually took his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters and brought them out of the city because the Lord was being merciful to them. The angels again told them to escape to the mountains. Lot argued with them and asked to go to another city instead because he feared what might happen to him in the mountains. The angels agreed, but told him in v.22 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Even though they were there to carry out the judgment of the Lord on the two cities, they could do nothing until Lot and his family were out of harm's way because of God's mercy toward Lot.
Not only did Lot tarry and not immediately do as the angels told him to, but they had to physically lead him and his family outside the city so they would begin the journey of escape. Lot also did not want to go to the place where he would be assured safety. He wanted to go to a place of his choosing. The angel of the Lord told him to go that he could not do anything until Lot had escaped. How often do we linger in the past and continue to look back at what could have been, or what should have been, or what would have been "only if.."? How often are we like Lot and we ask not to go where our safety is assured and danger can't harm us, but instead ask to go where we want to go and settle for something less than what God has provided? How often do we delay God's blessing because we do not immediately obey instructions He has given to us?
So, as this new year approaches, don't look backward at 2017. Instead, look forward. The new year brings the promise of new life in the things God has prepared for us. Look at John 1.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Our life is in Him. He has made us alive through grace.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Not only are we saved by grace, but we have hope in the new life that God is giving us. (See the post The Promise of Hope). We know the enemy comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. We know that Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly.
What does any of this have to do with Lot or even with new life? God gave Lot and his family an opportunity to live. By God's mercy He was willing to spare Lot and his family because of Lot's faithfulness to the Lord. BUT the family had to be physically led out of the place of destruction to safety, and they lived...except for the one that looked back. The one that looked back turned to a pillar of salt. The bible doesn't really expand on why Lot's wife looked back. It just states that she did. I would have to guess she was mourning leaving her home and the place where she and Lot had chosen to settle after the long journey with Abraham. Don't we do that? Don't we look back and mourn the place we are leaving instead of rejoicing for the new life that is to come when God calls us out of the place we are?
As the new year quickly approaches, I would urge you to not look back at what has been. Instead, keep your focus on the place God is calling you to.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
We cannot seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness if we are looking back. We cannot participate in the New life He has given us as new creations if we are looking back.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
So, look forward and seek the kingdom of God as this new year approaches. Enter into the new year not looking back, but instead boldly and with confidence knowing that Jeremiah 29:11 is true. Step with confidence forward into the new life of the new year because the old things have all passed away! All things have become new. Will your circumstances be any different on January 1 than they will be on December 31? No. Probably not. But your attitude can be. Your thoughts can be . Your focus can be. This is a time of rejoicing and anticipation of what God will do. It is not a time of sorrow for what has been.
So, today, I pray that going into this weekend and preparing for New Year's celebration parties or whatever you have going on that none of us lose sight of the fact that the new year is just one way God is moving us forward and into the plan He was prepared for us. His plan for us is so much more than we could wish for or plan for ourselves.
Have a blessed weekend, a safe and happy new year. May God touch your heart and bless you abundantly.
