A Different Look

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.” –Genesis 19:27-28, ESV

Right after Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt for a look back (v.26), Abraham looks at the same place without penalty. But it was a different look. While the woman fled destruction, she looked back with desire and took a glance at what was forbidden her (v.17; see Gen 3:6). In contrast, Abraham “stood” on the high ridge—the place where he “walked” with God (Gen 18:16) and appealed to His great character (Gen 18:23). Thus, Abraham looks with faith-filled eyes from a heavenly vantage point. There was no desire for Sodom in Abraham’s heart. He saw it for what it truly was.

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.” –Colossians 3:3-6, NET

“May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.” –2 Peter 1:2-4, NET

O, LORD, make us as Abraham, seeing with faith-filled eyes. Set us standing on the ROCK where you met us, and rid our hearts of any desires for the things of this world. Give us a high perspective, to see the world as You see it, not fooled by the way things appear, but how they are in the end.