Although Genesis is history and these events literally happened, this history has been so superintended by God, that it becomes a perfect illustration of the situation we are in spiritually. Before conversion we have been living at ease in the world. The gospel comes to us and shakes us. Wake up; the world is going to be destroyed and you will be destroyed with it if you stay in it. You have got to flee out of it. You will necessarily have to lose some things, leave some things behind, but that is nothing compared to what you stand to gain. Coming to Christ is like leaving the city where we have lived for many years. There will be people we know there, even family, who will not want to come with us. They will regard our leaving as extreme, and try to account for it in terms that justify their not coming with us. We for our part are going out into the unknown. It is a step of trust into a new life with God. We may feel that we are taking little with us, but at least we have our lives. However, while Lot was leaving Sodom, the seeking soul is leaving the world, and the world is going to try to exert its magnetic attraction as he does so. That attraction comes through desires. So the devil reminds us that to leave the world is to leave all that we have ever enjoyed. The seeker may at this point get a very clear view of what it is going to cost to follow Christ. You are contemplating becoming a disciple of Christ, are you? There will be much trouble ahead for you if you do. Are you really ready for that? Start adding up the things you will no longer be able to do as a Christian, because it is not a small list. There could not be a greater change in your life, the devil whispers in our ear.
To counter this, the angel says, ‘Look not behind thee.’ That too has its parallel for the soul that is seeking the Lord. That is what the Lord said to you and to me when he saved us. The old nature is beginning to panic. It senses that it is about to lose everything. It wants to exert its influence on the situation. It reminds the soul in the strongest possible terms all that it is about to forfeit in becoming a Christian. Matters may seem to be in the balance, and therefore the advice is, ‘Look not behind you.’ For Lot it is, ‘Do not look back longingly at Sodom which represents your former happiness.’ For the would-be Christian, it is, ‘Take hold of yourself and determine not to let those old desires overpower you again. You have begun to escape from them, but your escape could be quickly reversed if you do the wrong thing. Deny ungodly lusts and put them to death.’ It is impossible to come to Jesus Christ for salvation without dying to sin, for sin is certain to rear up and try to hold on to the soul through the ropes of desire. Cut them as fast as they appear, and be focused on one thing only: finding Christ as your Saviour. You need to realise you are in a terrible battle. Forces within you that you don’t understand. Forces may draw you away from the message. While you hear the message redouble your efforts and ask God to be your God and Saviour. If you have seen through this world at all, then you have made ground – use it. The cutting loose of old ties could be illustrated by a person emigrating from his home country, never to return again; or in modern terms perhaps by someone boarding a spaceship ready to pioneer a new planet, but the illustration of Lot leaving Sodom is enough. We must seek the Lord with all our hearts. When we repent sincerely and trust in the Lord, the power of sin will be broken in us. We will die to sin, and rise to a new life, and sin will no longer hold us as its slaves. Our escape from the world will end in victory, and Christ will keep us safe forever.