The Danger Of Looking Back

 

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26

Introduction: The Word of God says that Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom,” But Abraham heard from God and built an altar.

Lot and his wife had gotten use to the city life.

• Their life was a life of fun, fashion, and parties.
• They were warned by an angel to “Get outside!” But Lot’s wife disobeyed.

There is a danger in looking back…it takes your attention away from your focus.

• Lot’s Wife Looked Back
• She had too much Sodom in her, to leave it.
• She didn’t want to go back to small town living (to ordinary, simple living). She was in love with the big city life.
• An angel told (preached to) her “Look not behind thee” (v.17) but she deliberately and defiantly looked back
• Why? Was the price worth it?

Jesus said:  “Remember Lot’s wife.”

• She Suddenly had become only a memory.  A memory of warning to others.
• See, there is a danger of looking back when God is trying to take you somewhere else.
• The Children Of Ephraim Turned Back in Psalm 78: 8,9,10 A stubborn and rebellious generation. A generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. But there is a danger in looking back.

They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

1. They were unstable and not determined. (v. 8)
2. Their “spirit was not steadfast with God” (v. 8)
3. They “kept not the covenant” (v. 10)
4. They “refused to walk in His law” (v. 10)
5. They “set not their heart aright” (v. 8)

We need to make sure our heart is all right and say with David in Psalm 57:7

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

 

 

 

3. Demas Went Back

• Demas went back not to do evil, nor to indulge in some vile sin. But he just simple “ loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10)

He had another love’ another love greater than his love for God.

1. I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…
2. II Corinthians 6:17 Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord… and I will receive you.
3. Christians are not to go back into the world according to II Timothy 2:4

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life…

 

Sports events, television, things that entertain our flesh… should not ever take the place of church service, revival services or prayer meetings.

Visiting friends, little league baseball, boy scouts, should not take the place of church

What kind of example do we set to the world, our family and our children… when we lay out of church to do something else?

All these are signs of “ loving this present world ”

 

4. Offended Disciples Turned Back.

 

John 6:66

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

 

1. They were offended by his words: “ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ”
2. Sometimes people are offended by what the preacher preaches — but a preacher must “ preach the Word “. II Timothy 4:2,3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 

5. Workers In The Church Sometimes Looks Back

 

Luke 9:62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

“ Looking back ”— Wanting to go back— means your heart is not in your work.

Some people are not satisfied with the ordinary. They want the prestigious place.

They want to “grandstand” as we used to say back when I played ball.

Meaning that they were playing to the crowd in the stands.

But David said in Psalm 84:10

… A single day in thy courts (God’s House) is better than a thousand (days away from God). I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness (and riches).

 

6. Orpah Turned Back. (Ruth Chapter 1)
7. Naomi said,

 

Ruth 1:15

Thy sister in law is gone back unto her people and unto her gods.

 

1. Verse 14—- “ Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave to her. ”

There are 2 categories…the kissers and the cleavers—which category are we in?

1. Orpha went back to her heathen family and her heathen life.
2. Orpha went back to obscurity. Ruth went on to greatness.
3. Orpah did not want to do what she knew was right.

 

7. Many Turn Back In Their Hearts.

Stephen preaching about how the Jewish nations treated Jesus said:

 

Acts 7:3

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

 

“ Thrust Him from them ” — they pushed God away.

“ In their hearts turned back ” — they were backsliders at heart.

Returning to Egypt, with its bondage and slavery, that was their desire. That was what they wanted.

“ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly ”

 

Another great sermon by Eric Westland Are You Drifting?