Remember Lot’s Wife (by Cathe Laurie)

“Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it” (Luke 17:32–33 NLT).

Jesus Tells Us to Remember Lot’s Wife

There are a lot of strong, powerful, faithful, inspiring women in the Bible. But there’s only one whom Jesus specifically tells us to remember.

Mary? Ruth? Esther?

No—Lot’s wife.

Do you remember Lot’s wife? She did one thing that put her in the Bible forever, that literally froze her in time.

She turned around.

The Story of Lot’s Wife

When Sodom was burning, the angels who saved Lot and his family told them to leave and not look back (see Genesis 19). Lot’s wife looked back. . . and was turned into a pillar of salt.

“Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it” (Luke 17:32–33 NLT).

Understanding Jesus’ Message in Luke 17

In the context of Luke 17, Jesus is speaking of the coming kingdom and the urgency of being spiritually prepared.

Lot’s wife may have looked back in disbelief that she was being removed and spared from the judgement falling on a place that ultimately would be destroyed. She may have looked back because she was attached to her life in Sodom—her comforts, possessions, or lifestyle.

Either way, Jesus’ message was clear: The kingdom is coming, and we must be ready. There’s no time to hesitate, no time to look back at what we’re leaving behind.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NLT).

Jesus is calling us to have full trust and faith in Him. When He says, “move,” we move. When He calls us forward, we don’t look back. And when He tells us He’s coming, we keep our gaze ahead.

We don’t split focus. Because when we split focus, we lose it all.

Be Prepared for the Last Days

You know that game with three cups? A prize is hidden underneath one, and then someone slides them around and around, mixing up their order and pattern until finally, you have to identify which of the identical cups holds the prize.

If you tear your eyes away for even just a second, you could lose track, choose the wrong cup, and miss out on the prize.

It’s the same with our lives. If we let ourselves hold onto our old lives—staring back at our comforts, desiring our possessions over anything else—we lose the greatest gift: His kingdom.

Friends, remember Lot’s wife. The kingdom to come far outshines any kingdom of this world. Leave behind your old life, quickly and entirely. We don’t know when the end days will come, and we must be prepared. Don’t hold on, and don’t drag your feet. Don’t prioritize or value material things or our own comfort over spiritual obedience. Chase the Lord with all you have, and don’t look back.

“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT).

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.