WEEKLY REFLECTION by Pastor Lap Dinh on Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭32‬-‭33‬

 “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.” These verses are the context of Jesus answering the Pharisees regarding when the coming of the kingdom of God would be. Jesus mentioned Noah and Lot as examples of how sudden and unpredictable the day of God’s judgment was on unrighteous people—those who thought they could be right in their own eyes, unrepentant, and living or doing business as usual. Then Jesus reminded the hearers to remember Lot’s wife. In Genesis 19:26, it was recorded that she looked back and became a pillar of salt (instant death and turned into ashes). Did she try to save her life, only to lose it? This sheds light and gives us insight. Looking back to a “glamorous wicked/evil/unbelieving past or moment” means turning away from what God is about to bring one into. This is an act of wanting to save one’s life by one’s own ideas. And the outcome will always be: losing one's life. In contrast, those who look straight ahead toward what God is going to do or bring them into—and are not afraid of losing their life for God’s plan and purpose—will have life. Now is the time to live according to what Jesus foretold us. This is wisdom. To live otherwise is foolish. The choice is always ours.