A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 19.
Do you remember the “Lot of Livin'” dance scene from Bye, Bye, Birdie? (Probably not, but it’s a fun, feel good watch anyway.) And it’s a good reminder to keep looking forward rather than back.
Genesis 19 is a rough chapter. Sodom turns out to be even more immoral and violent than anyone thought. No one believes that destruction is imminent. Even Lot hesitates, and the angels have to drag him, his wife, and his two daughters out of the city as fire and brimstone obliterate the city and surrounding area.
And then “Lot’s wife…looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
Later on, as Jesus speaks about the judgment to come, he says, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). So apparently, there’s a lesson to be learned here.
But what is it?
I think Paul touches on this when he writes, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13,14).
Paul had a lot of past accomplishments. But those things didn’t define him. He had a lot of regrets, too. But they didn’t define him either. His focus is now on Christ, the future, the goal, the prize: eternal life!
If you only focus on what you used to be or do, the present is disappointing. You can get stuck in the ditch of poor choices and bad decisions from the past, too. The other option is to take Jesus up on his invitation to follow him and embrace the future.
Waite for it... 
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