"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)" One way to be successful in life is for one to be focus; there is the need to keep pressing forward without looking backward.
There are many seen and unseen forces, which cause distractions in our journey in life and in all our undertakings.
These forces are deterrents to new life in Christ or our expected successes.
Human beings are bound to face challenges in life.
Christians should expect more of this, not that we deserve it, but because we are satan's target.
However, our Lord Jesus assured us that, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
" (Jn.
16:33) He had overcome the devil on our behalf.
David said, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivered him out of them all.
" (Ps.
34:19) There are times that our situation demands moving to the other side of the isle; "to the other side of the Sea of Galilee" where miraculous work happens; crossing from slavery to freedom; or crossing from poverty to prosperity.
Unfortunately, many people do not make it to the other side because of lack of self-control: Unwilling to let go all encumbrances, which hinder forward progress.
Such is seen in the life of Lot's wife.
The wife of Lot looked back Is the story of Lot's wife a pathetic one? No; however, it serves as a lesson to all Christians to let go all encumbrances that stands in our way of salvation: Especially, when we are overwhelm with sin, worldliness, covetousness, unforgiving and resentment.
Lot's wife intentionally disobeyed the angel's command not to look back when the family of Lot was escaping from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Bible says, "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".
(Gen.
19:17) Why would Lot's wife disobeyed this command when God was about to deliver them from destruction.
1.
Reluctance to separate from sin? 2.
Unable to control her desire for sin delicacies? 3.
Not willing to let go the worldly environment? 4.
Lack's vision of what the Lord has to replace their former sinful base? All these and more accounted for her disobedience.
It is stubbornness, idol of the mind, covetousness and rebellion.
No one embraces these devilish attributes will escape the wrath of God.
They are encumbrances to a Christian's entrance into the Kingdom of God.
The Bible says, "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (Gen.
19:26) As Christians, many of us claimed to have given our lives to the Lord, that is good and we called it justification; that is, we are saved and welcome into God' fold.
However, it is more important to be aware of our activities after justification, which is sanctification.
This is the point that determines our entrance into the kingdom of God, which is glorification.
In sanctification, we have so many encumbrances that wait to deter our salvation which is progression.
Many believers find it difficult to leave their former base of sinful enjoyment; their former sin has become a besetting sin; unwillingness to pursue righteousness and holiness; and many have allowed the care of this world rule their lives and thereby robbed them of eternity with God.
The Bible declared that "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully".
(2Tim.
2:4).
Remember the wilderness experience; many people fell by the way and never made it to the promise land, because, they looked back to slavery delicacies of Egypt.
Let us run our race toward eternity without looking back to the world that we may make it to the promise land.
There are many seen and unseen forces, which cause distractions in our journey in life and in all our undertakings.
These forces are deterrents to new life in Christ or our expected successes.
Human beings are bound to face challenges in life.
Christians should expect more of this, not that we deserve it, but because we are satan's target.
However, our Lord Jesus assured us that, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
" (Jn.
16:33) He had overcome the devil on our behalf.
David said, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivered him out of them all.
" (Ps.
34:19) There are times that our situation demands moving to the other side of the isle; "to the other side of the Sea of Galilee" where miraculous work happens; crossing from slavery to freedom; or crossing from poverty to prosperity.
Unfortunately, many people do not make it to the other side because of lack of self-control: Unwilling to let go all encumbrances, which hinder forward progress.
Such is seen in the life of Lot's wife.
The wife of Lot looked back Is the story of Lot's wife a pathetic one? No; however, it serves as a lesson to all Christians to let go all encumbrances that stands in our way of salvation: Especially, when we are overwhelm with sin, worldliness, covetousness, unforgiving and resentment.
Lot's wife intentionally disobeyed the angel's command not to look back when the family of Lot was escaping from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Bible says, "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".
(Gen.
19:17) Why would Lot's wife disobeyed this command when God was about to deliver them from destruction.
1.
Reluctance to separate from sin? 2.
Unable to control her desire for sin delicacies? 3.
Not willing to let go the worldly environment? 4.
Lack's vision of what the Lord has to replace their former sinful base? All these and more accounted for her disobedience.
It is stubbornness, idol of the mind, covetousness and rebellion.
No one embraces these devilish attributes will escape the wrath of God.
They are encumbrances to a Christian's entrance into the Kingdom of God.
The Bible says, "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (Gen.
19:26) As Christians, many of us claimed to have given our lives to the Lord, that is good and we called it justification; that is, we are saved and welcome into God' fold.
However, it is more important to be aware of our activities after justification, which is sanctification.
This is the point that determines our entrance into the kingdom of God, which is glorification.
In sanctification, we have so many encumbrances that wait to deter our salvation which is progression.
Many believers find it difficult to leave their former base of sinful enjoyment; their former sin has become a besetting sin; unwillingness to pursue righteousness and holiness; and many have allowed the care of this world rule their lives and thereby robbed them of eternity with God.
The Bible declared that "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully".
(2Tim.
2:4).
Remember the wilderness experience; many people fell by the way and never made it to the promise land, because, they looked back to slavery delicacies of Egypt.
Let us run our race toward eternity without looking back to the world that we may make it to the promise land.
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