Just one more look, one more lingering gaze at what had not only been her home, but her life. What an enviable life it had seemed. Her two daughters were engaged to be married and her wealthy husband had a position of honor, standing in the city gates of Sodom. They had lived respectably, were courteous to strangers, and didn’t fall into the abhorrent vices of those around them. Even though her husband felt vexed over the sins he heard and saw in the city, they lived there comfortably. Of course, there was the time when all seemed lost: when Sodom was overthrown and looted by four kings and their household had been led away as captives. Yet even then, everything had turned out well through Uncle Abraham’s rescue, and all had been restored. But now she, Lot’s wife, was called upon to forsake the very soil she had planted herself in, the very life into which her roots had grown deeply.

The angel that had urgently warned Lot and his family had been very clear. As the morning of judgment had dawned, the angel had to pull the reluctant family out of Sodom, pointing the way to safety. He said, “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Intellectually, Lot’s wife knew what danger lay behind her. The God whom her husband served was not only most gracious and forbearing; He was also just and holy, and He would not tolerate unrepentant sin. And so she ran.

Outwardly, her legs carried her swiftly away from temporal danger, away from the brimstone and fire that engulfed the cities in the valley. Outwardly, she seemed to escape God’s fierce wrath. And yet, when close to Zoar, the city of safety, Lot’s wife fell behind. Turning around, she looked back. Her punishment was swift. Pulsing blood, tired legs, lungs gasping for breath — all instantaneously turned hard. She became a pillar of salt, frozen between her former life and safety.

What a striking punishment for one little back­wards look! Perhaps you feel that God was too swift and even harsh in His punishment. Don’t we all care deeply for our homes and families? Wouldn’t we all have a hard time seeing our possessions go up in smoke? Although it seemed like such a small, understandable sin, that one rebellious look encapsulated her heart’s longings. Her mind had told her to flee and her physical legs had obeyed, but her roots had grown so deeply into Sodom’s soil that on the day of God’s judgment, they could not be uprooted. Outward obedience couldn’t hide inward defiance. Her backwards look shows a little glimpse into her heart, a heart that was “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Her world-entangled heart cost Lot’s wife everything.

Perhaps, however, your heart swiftly condemns Lot’s wife for disobeying such an obvious command. How did she dare to turn around and look back? She was in danger of her life, warned by an angel to flee and not look back, and yet she seemed more preoccupied with her possessions than sav­ing her life! How foolish! But consider whether you are following in her footsteps. You may live a respectable life and not fall into heinous sins. You might even talk like a Christian, follow certain rules in order to live like a Christian, and even rear your children in what looks like a Christian home. When you hear God’s call to flee from judgment to the safety of Christ’s precious blood, you may intellectually agree and know that there is only one way of salvation. But where is your heart? Rooted down in your home, your children, your family, your hobbies, your image, your possessions, your job, your convenience, your reputation? Or is your very safety and life-source rooted in Christ? Don’t let Judgment Day arrive and then desperately hope that your outwardly Christian life will be enough. Lot’s wife, by turning around even in the midst of fleeing from judgment, revealed her heart and priorities. Your heart, too, will be revealed on that great day. Jesus warns us: “Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:32-33).