Don’t get stuck in the past

2024-07-01
Genesis 19:17 NLT

Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of town: “‘Run for your lives!’ [one warned.] ‘And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’…But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt” (vv. 17, 26 NLT). By looking back, Lot’s wife disobeyed a direct instruction from God. As a result, she died – stuck in the past. There are three important lessons here for you.

(1) “Don’t… stop anywhere in the valley!” We all go through valley experiences in life, but we must not get stuck in them or set up residence in them.

(2) “And don’t look back.” The reason the windshield in your car is larger than the rearview mirror is because you’re supposed to spend most of your time looking through that one, and only periodically glancing in the other in order to make corrections so that you can continue to move forward safely and reach your destination. Getting the idea?

(3) “Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” When someone hurts you, you have two choices: take the high road or the low road. When you take the low road and retaliate, something within you begins to die spiritually. But when you take the high road, you grow stronger, wiser, and more mature. When you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. Always! God has better days and better things in store for you. So forgive, forget, and move forward.

Soul food: 1 Sam 4-7; Luke 3:11-20; Ps 59:9-17; Prov 16:23-26

Moenie in die verlede vasgevang word nie


Genesis 19:17 NLV

Voor God vir Sodom en Gomorra vernietig het, het Hy engele na Lot en sy familie gestuur om hulle te waarsku om die stad te verlaat: ‘…Vlug vir julle lewe! Moet nêrens in die vlakte stilstaan nie! En moenie omkyk nie! Vlug na die berge, anders sal julle doodgaan… Agter hom het Lot se vrou omgekyk en in ‘n soutpilaar verander’ (verse 17,26 NLV). Deur om te kyk, het Lot se vrou ‘n direkte instruksie van God verontagsaam. Gevolglik het sy gesterf – vasgevang in die verlede. Hier is drie belangrike lesse te leer.

1) ‘Moet nêrens in die vlakte stilstaan nie!’ Ons almal gaan deur hoogtes en laagtes, maar jy moet nie in die laagtes vasgevang raak of daar tent opslaan nie.

2) ‘En moenie omkyk nie!’ Die rede hoekom die windskerm van jou kar groter as die truspieëltjie is, is omdat jy veronderstel is om die meerderheid van die tyd vorentoe te kyk en net af en toe terug te kyk sodat jy veilig vorentoe kan beweeg en jou bestemming kan bereik.

3) ‘Vlug na die berge, anders sal julle doodgaan.’ Wanneer iemand jou seermaak, het jy twee keuses: Om terug te slaan of vorentoe te beweeg. Wanneer jy terugslaan, begin iets geestelik binne jou doodgaan. Wanneer jy egter vorentoe beweeg, word jy sterker, wyser en meer volwasse.

Wanneer jy in die verlede vasgevang word, is dit altyd ten koste van die toekoms. Altyd! God het beter dae en beter dinge vir jou in gedagte. Vergewe dus, vergeet en beweeg vorentoe.

Sielskos: 1 Sam 4-7; Luk 3:11-20; Ps 59:9-17; Spr 16:23-26