“When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” ” (Genesis 19:16–17, NIV)

The verses above come from the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  This is when the angels of the Lord go into the city to rescue Lot and his family.  I can’t seem to get over the word “hesitated”.  It haunts me.  The angels, Lot, and his family were on their way out of the city and they kept hesitating.  Knowing that the city was going to be destroyed because of its wickedness was not enough to totally break the connection they had with the city.  The angels even warn the family “not to look back”.  They needed to understand that this was a move of repentance just as much as it was a move geographically.  They needed to break their ties to the wickedness of the city.  As we learn in a few more verse, it was impossible for Lot’s wife to do.  He looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.

When God gives us the opportunity to repent and start over again, there is no time to hesitate or look back.  We need to repent right then and their.  Don’t let the allure of sin keep you hooked.  It didn’t turn out well for Lot’s wife or the two cities…it won’t for us either.  Both John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries saying, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”  They didn’t say it was someday coming in the future.  They said NOW is the time.

Is their anything causing you to hesitate or look back?  Close your eyes and think/pray for a minute.  God is giving you and opportunity to make a change today.  Are you sure you want to wait?  Make it now and make it certain.

Peace!

Tom

www.firmlyrooted.org