Genesis 19:26
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
God gave explicit instructions to Lot not to look back once they left the city of Sodom. Lot’s wife made a tragic and deadly decision to look back when God commanded them to look forward. God did not want them to look back because they were to look forward to God by faith. Her action to look back did not just affect her, but her whole family. Her action of faithlessness led to the horrible sin of Lot’s daughters plotting to get pregnant by their dad. Had Lot’s wife not looked back, the family’s history likely would have been different. God turned her into a pillar of salt, as salt is a purifier, to keep every person’s faith pure from doubting the decision to follow the LORD by faith.
Looking back is always the wrong viewpoint for the believer. God says in Luke 9:62, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. We are also reminded in Hebrews 10:38, Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. The consequence of looking back is always sin, heartache, and regret. God warns not to draw back from what you are doing by faith. You see, if you never look back, you will never draw back from faith. The key to keeping your faith strong is never to look back.
My friend, never look back when you have rededicated your life to the Lord. Nearly every Sunday in our church, we have someone who rededicates their life to God. When you come back to God, never look back to what you think you are missing out on by serving God. There will be days when the life of serving God will not seem beneficial, but you must never look back, because once you look back, you will draw back from serving God.
Moreover, never look back when you have made a decision of faith. You decided you will serve God; don't look back. You decided you will tithe; don't look back. You decided you will stay pure as a young person; don't look back. You decided you will be faithful to church; don't look back. You decided to give your life to God full-time; don't look back. When you make a decision of faith, you must go all in and never look back. The moment you look back on the decision of faith is the moment you will draw back, which results in your life displeasing the Lord. Only those who keep looking forward are those who will see their faith become a reality.
Furthermore, never look back when your world is falling apart. Lot’s wife’s world seemed to be falling apart. She lost her home, two daughters and son’s in law who stayed in Sodom, and fire rained down from Heaven and destroyed her whole world, but had she kept looking forward, God had something greater for her. We will never know what God would have done through Lot and his wife had she not looked back. Just because your world is falling apart does not mean you should look back. The focus on which you have placed your faith will not become a reality without hard times. This is why you must never look back because the realization of your faith will not happen when you draw back.
Finally, never look back when what you are doing for God does not seem to be paying off. God always honors faith; He just doesn't tell us when the paycheck of faith will come. So, trust God and His Word that He will honor your faith. God will come through if you don't look back.
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