In this chapter, verses 26-27, Jesus is speaking of the danger of living for the world. When the Roman army assailed Jerusalem, A. D. 70, as He had told the Jews they should, the city was no more prepared to defend herself than she was when Nebuchadnezzar and his mighty forces attacked Jewry in the seventh century B. C. And seemingly the Jews of any given period of time profited little by the experiences of their past. Because of this neglect and unconcern they suffered great woes and tribulations.

"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country (Egypt) from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city" (Heb. 11 :15, 16). Such was the privilege of the people who came up from Egypt by way of the Red Sea; but they did not. Jude says: "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people (Israel) out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."

"Let us fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Heb. 4:1, 2). They heard the Gospel is the type or shadow; we hear it in fact. It "did not profit them," because they did not believe it—they did not follow it up; and if we do not obey what we hear, we are not profited any more than they were. Jesus said (Luke 8:18), "Take heed how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have." Even if we can cause ourselves to think that we are righteous, still we are unrighteous, if the truth is against us. We must hear with sincere hearts, get understanding, and live up to the truth, to be righteous.

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus dealt with three classes of people, so to speak: (1) A certain individual told Him that he would follow Him, without, it seems, considering the consequences; (2) when asked to follow Him, another man would consider the dead world first; (3) another would follow Him, but he must first start with his fleshly loved ones in favor. In Luke 14:18-20, we learn that three classes of people could not consent to go immediately to the "great supper"; but "they a11 with one consent began to make excuse"; this one had to look after his land; that one must go prove his five yoke of oxen; still another had married a wife. So they "could not come."

Such was the general attitude toward the Savior in the green tree," tree," and so is the attitude of the world toward Him and his Word "in the dry" (Luke 23:31). And all the foregoing and much more was on the Savior’s heart, when He said, "REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE" and referred to the manner of the world" in the days of Noah" and "in the days of Lot." For Lot’s wife had explicit warning not to look back: "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed (Gen. 19:17). Lot said, "Oh, not so, my Lord," yet he did finally go to the mountain. "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26).

Today there may be ever so many of my brethren who make excuses, look back to the world or go back to the world; they do not love the Savior "more than these" (John 21); they do not count the cost (Luke 14:25-33); they are willing to take the risk; they even will risk their influence against the soul welfare of others. Like the man, rebuked by the Savior (Luke 9:62), those who look back are not fit for the kingdom of God.

The Savior is coming again. Let us set our houses in order, "lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping (Mark 13:36), or smiting our fellow-servants and eating and drinking with the drunken (Matt. 24:49). We are told to "look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2) and "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling" (Phillip. 3 :14). But we cannot do these while looking wistfully on the world or going with it. "REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE."