Once at eventide, beneath the deepening skies of ancient Palestine, there appeared in the gates of Sodom two strangers. Supposing them to be travelers in need of rest and lodging, Lot, according to the story in the book of Genesis, generously pressed them to remain with him overnight. In return for his loving hospitality, the strangers— who were angels sent to protect him —warned Lot to flee at once with his family because the wicked city was to be destroyed. When they seemed to linger at parting with home and possessions, the strangers laid hold upon them and sent them on their way with the words, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee." The fate of Lot's wife, who could not resist one longing backward look, is well known.
The people of Jesus' time were familiar with the story of the pillar of salt, and on one occasion the great Teacher drew from it a vivid illustration. In referring to the escape from Sodom, which necessitated leaving behind them every material dependence, Jesus said: "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife."
"Remember Lot's wife"! How rich the significance of this admonition to all who are beginning to recognize the stultifying effect of looking backward so intently that they lose sight of the road ahead! We must watch our thoughts, that they do not temporarily congeal into a pillar of salt, so to speak, while we are absorbed in viewing our past mistakes or griefs or material pleasures, keeping our gaze fixed on those self-destroying errors, so that we stumble and halt and cannot go forward. Indeed, a pillar of salt is not more stationary than a mentality hardened by resentment over past bitterness, or perhaps inert by reason of longing for the material ease of other days. How we need to be awakened to the vital necessity of more valiantly, more joyously, following Paul's example, as shown in his words about himself, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"! Therefore, to use Jesus' illustration, when, upon the housetop of awakened spiritual desire, the Christ is revealed and we receive the inspired impulse to follow the gleam toward the kingdom of Spirit, let us not come down to gather up our cherished mortal concepts and notions, and carry them with us. "Remember Lot's wife"! Remember that salvation is at hand, not behind.
