Remember Lot's wife. These three little words carry profound meaning for us. In Luke 17:28-32, Christ warns that in the day when the Son of Man is revealed, we must not turn back for our possessions, just as Lot's wife did. Her story, found in Genesis 19, reveals why she became a pillar of salt. When commanded to leave Sodom, she lingered, unwilling to forsake the city. Her heart remained with her belongings, and though she physically left, her longing drew her gaze backward, leading to her transformation into salt. This account ties to the concept of deleavening during the Days of Unleavened Bread, symbolizing the removal of sin from our lives. Lot's wife serves as a stark reminder of the danger of clinging to the things of this world. Her memory is critical to our spiritual life, prompting us to examine where our heart truly lies. Is it anchored in this world, or are we ready to forsake sin entirely? Christ emphasizes in Luke 9:62 that no one who looks back after putting their hand to the plow is fit for the kingdom of God. We must look forward, pressing toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, as stated in Philippians 3:13-14. The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures our obedience to God, striving to keep His commandments and build His character. When God says to go, will we obey, or will we hesitate, thinking of our possessions? The bottom line remains: remember Lot's wife.

In Luke 17:32, our Savior Jesus Christ admonishes His disciples with the words "Remember Lot's wife," a warning relevant to us as we approach the end of this age. This caution draws from the events in Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of great sin that God decided to destroy due to their grievous wickedness. Lot, a righteous man, settled in Sodom despite knowing the wickedness of its people. When angels came to warn him of the impending destruction, they urged him to flee with his family. Though hesitant, Lot, his wife, and two daughters were led out of the city by the angels, with strict commands not to look back and not to stay in the plain. As they fled to Zoar, and while the Lord rained brimstone and fire upon the cities, Lot's wife disobeyed the angel's command and looked back, becoming a pillar of salt. Her act of looking back may have stemmed from an inordinate love for the world, the material wealth, and the high social status she enjoyed in Sodom. Beyond material loss, she also left behind married daughters, sons-in-law, and possibly grandchildren who perished in the destruction, which likely weighed heavily on her heart as a loving mother, clouding her ability to heed the divine warning.

Let us reflect on the powerful lesson of Lot's wife, a reminder given by Jesus Christ Himself in Luke 17:32, when He urges, "Remember Lot's wife." In the days of Lot, as described in Genesis 19, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah faced divine destruction due to their grave sins. Lot and his family were instructed to flee without looking back, yet Lot's wife disobeyed this command. As fire and brimstone rained down, she looked back—perhaps longingly, perhaps in mourning for what she left behind—and became a pillar of salt. Her action symbolizes a failure to fully let go of the past and embrace the safety and future God provided. Jesus uses this example to teach the urgency of moving forward when He returns. In Luke 17:31-33, He warns that in the day of His revelation, there must be no turning back for possessions or attachments, for whoever seeks to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. The story of Lot's wife parallels the Israelites' longing to return to Egypt despite God's deliverance, illustrating how attachment to a sinful or comfortable past can hinder our journey to the Kingdom. God calls us out of sin, out of Babylon, as seen in Revelation 18:4, urging His people to flee lest they share in her plagues. The urgency to escape destruction, as with Lot's family, is a call to action now, not to linger or hesitate as Lot did. Lot's wife could not see what God was working out for her safety; she was caught between what she knew and the path ahead. Her example challenges us to examine whether we are truly moving forward or if we are held back by distractions or attachments to this world. In Luke 9:62, Jesus teaches that no one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. Our focus must be forward, as a farmer plowing a field cannot afford to look behind lest the rows go astray. Similarly, in Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to lay aside every weight and sin, running with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. God desires us to press on, not to be ensnared by what lies behind, but to seek the heavenly country He has prepared, as the heroes of faith did in Hebrews 11:13-16. The lesson of Lot's wife is a stark reminder for all time—whether for those alive at Christ's return or for us now. God calls us out of this world, out of sin, to be part of His Family. We must not let the past define us or hold us back. Our eyes must look straight ahead, pondering the path of our feet, as Proverbs 4:25-27 instructs. Remember Lot's wife, and let us focus on what lies ahead, following God's instructions with faith, pressing forward to His Kingdom.