No Looking Back

Luke 17:26-37
Sunday morning we noticed Lot’s folly in pitching his tent toward Sodom. We mentioned then that Lot and his family had to be literally dragged by two angels from Sodom because they were slow to leave. The angels told them to escape for their lives and not look back. Lot’s wife did looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt.
Jesus warned His followers that when He returns to earth He will come suddenly. We have to live in anticipation of Christ’s return because we don’t know when it will happen. We can’t be watching for Jesus if we are looking back and caught up in our old sinful life.
In Luke 17:32, Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” If we remember Lot’s wife we won’t look back! That is our warning. We can follow Jesus if we keep our eyes on Him. If we are going to follow Jesus as our leader we must be willing to lose our old way of life to find a better life in Christ. I believe that we are living in the last times. The question is, what are we doing about it? Instead of trying to give you some answers tonight, I would rather leave you with some questions.

I. FOREWARNING- 26-30
Noah had spent his life building an ark that nobody ever expected to be needed
Until that time, it had never rained, and there had been no flooding
Crime and injustice were so bad that God decided to destroy the earth
People mocked Noah and his family as they built the ark
Bible calls Noah a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5) though only his family was saved
Jesus said that His return would be something like that- People consumed with their lives
They don’t see the need to repent and come to a relationship with the Lord
Noah and his family were safely on the ark before the storm came
The people didn’t realize until it was too late for them to act
Even though no one else responded, Noah’s work was successful
Each of us can trace our lineage back to Noah through one of his sons: Shem, Ham or Japheth
What if Noah had let people override his duty and calling from God?
Why would we allow those who won’t be delivered interfere with our work?
The same day that Lot left Sodom, destruction rained down upon the city
Lot had tried to warn his family but they thought he was joking and didn’t heed the warning
He’d given them no reason to believe he had any connection to God by his choices
2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
There won’t be a press release nor a public service announcement- We must be ready
God never told Noah when, just that it was going to flood and Noah obeyed

II. FAMILY- 33-36
Jesus tells us that His coming will separate people who were otherwise close
Luke adds that Jesus said two would be in bed and only one taken
With the time differences around the world, we know it is tomorrow on the other side
That explains why there would be people in bed while others are engaged in business
But consider that people who spend their days and nights together will be split up
The division is based on whether or not people have accepted Christ as Savior
Who do you know that will be left behind? Who in your family won’t be taken?
There won’t be a giant cross in the skies to announce the return of the Lord
The warning we have is the only warning that we will get
Mt