Lot was saved, but only just saved. Lot’s wife was almost saved, but she was lost. The Bible does not tell us her name in Genesis 19:26, but she was considered a native of Sodom which would explain her longing for the area and the people; which may have also caused her to turn to see its destruction, turning into a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:26: “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. Do not be tempted to water down or weaken the force and truth of Jesus’ solemn words: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17: 32), and who it is who enjoins us to do this, and why. There are five points in particular that we should remember about her:
1. Remember: Lot’s wife perished, although she was a woman of great privilege.
She was the wife of Lot who was “a righteous man”, a believer – yet she perished. All through the years Lot had believed in God, he had prayed to Him and had worshipped Him, yet Mrs. Lot remained outside, without a like faith in the Lord. Presumably these two, husband and wife, not only lived together but they slept together; they did everything together – and yet when the crisis-time came Lot was saved and his wife was lost. There is only one judgment for the man or woman who has not repented. Luke 13:3: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Lot’s wife could never say that she had not heard about God or heard His warning that judgment was about to fall on Sodom (Genesis 19:14-17). There must be people today who have not heard of judgment to come, simply because no one has told or warned them. But that was not the case with Lot’s wife, and that can never be the case with everyone within the sound of my voice. The danger of every unsaved soul is very terrible. All who have not received Christ as their personal Savior, all who have not come to Him and placed their faith in Him, are condemned. Lost on everyone I know is, after the fantastic news of John 3:16 is John 3:18: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”) The wrath of God abides on them (John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”) They cannot go to be where Jesus is, and if they die in this state they will die in their sins (John 8:21). Yes, and that means eternal banishment from God’s presence (Revelation 20:15: “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”).
From the record we learn that she rose up early with Lot, and together they set out to leave the city of Sodom, but she did not make it. She needed the security of the city of refuge – Zoar. She never reached Zoar but she perished on the way. It is not enough for men and women today to try their best to leave the bad things behind and to do the good things such as going to church, reading the Bible, giving up bad habits. No, He, the Lord Jesus, is the only safe and sure Refuge (Hebrews 6:18). We are not saved by works, but by personal trust in the Lord Jesus (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5 – 7). Our morning opening hymn reminds us:
Not the labor of my hands,
Can fulfil Thy law’s demands:
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
The command was to “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back” (Genesis 19:17); but she “looked back…” (v. 26) – and she perished. The sin of unbelief is the one and only sin which is needed to bring total and final spiritual disaster.
The judgment of God fell upon her not when she was miles or yards away from the place of safety, but when she was at the very gates of Zoar. How true it is to observe that this woman was almost saved – but she was lost! She was almost within the gates of mercy, but she was outside. How very solemn this is! “Remember Lot’s wife…” May this solemn truth stir us to a deeper concern to seek those who are perishing, that we may bring them to Jesus.
The doom of Lot’s wife was very terrible, but no more terrible than will be the doom of every lost sinner. If we believe this we shall make quite sure of our own salvation, and then we shall seek the enabling of the Holy Spirit to warn those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior of the danger which awaits them (Psalm 51:14; Ezekiel 3:18; Matthew 3:7; Acts 20:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 1:28).