30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 21 20-24 WATCH AND PRAY III 08 Luke 21 21 Remember Lot’s wife
📖 Luke 21:20-24
*FRIEND OF GOD*
31May2021 - *Remember Lot’s wife* - _Luke 21:20-24_ - WATCH AND PRAY III (08) – Bible reading: _Luke 17:26-33_ minute
The Lord is calling us to live as strangers and pilgrims in this world. The Lord desires for us to live with our palms open, not clenched and tight-fisted. We must think of others and share what we have, instead of trying to hoard for ourselves. We need this freedom in our spirit.
Prophesies are given in such a way that they overlay over one another and their fulfilment happens in layers, at different points in history. Though the passage in _Luke 21:20-24_ is about the events of AD 70 it also pertains to our period at the close of the age and the return of our Lord.
_Luke 21:21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her._
The Lord’s message for us is that we must not be attached to the world and in the pursuit of the symbols of success as prescribed by the world. We must be ready to flee and get away. We must learn to live in the current times with an approach of detachment. We must be people of excellence at all times but distancing ourselves from the quests of the world, ready to leave at any time.
_Luke 17:26-29 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: (27) They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and *the flood came and destroyed them all*. (28) Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; (29) but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and *destroyed them all*._
People were not repenting as Noah preached to them. _II Peter 2:5-6 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, *bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly*;_
It was the same experience at the time of Lot. _II Peter 2:6-8 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, *condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly*; (7) and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (8) (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—_
The same experience is what is happening today. The Lord is longing for the people of the world to repent, return and restored to Him. People are not wanting to be restored to God but instead are waiting eagerly for the pandemic to be over so that they can get back to the life that man considers life, which comprises marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, building and planting.
I am not saying that we should not be involved in any of these activities now, but let us keep the bigger picture in view. We must live in these last day with a sense of detachment and not be attached to all of these matters that the world considers as stability and safety in life.
In both experiences of Noah and Lot, we can see that all those who did not repent, were destroyed. None were spared except the ones who feared the Lord and chose to walk in His ways. This is the warning that is being given to us.
It is only when we embrace the attitude of detachment that we can be free to be a blessing to others. We will not be focused on ourselves but will be able to think of the need of others and see how we can share what we have with others
_Luke 17:31-33 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. (32) *Remember Lot's wife*. (33) Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it._
What was the issue with Lot’s wife? She was attached to the things of the world and she looked back at the city that was burning. This is the warning for us. We must be detached from the things of the world or else we will perish as Lot’s wife.
_Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, *seek those things which are above*, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) *Set your mind on things above*, not on things on the earth. (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) *When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him* in glory._
All that is given after _Colossians 3:4_ is about how we need to live in the world in these last days, a life of detachment but at the same time deeply attached to God. This is what sanctification is all about. *God is sanctifying the church to be detached from the world and become more and more attached to God*.
_I Peter 2:11-12 *Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul*, (12) *having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles*, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, *glorify God in the day of visitation*._
_Malachi 3:2-3 “But *who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire* And like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; *He will purify the sons of Levi*, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness._
The Lord is preparing us for His coming and He is sanctifying the church.
*Thought to ponder*
```Let us not fall into the trap of Lot’s wife.```