It is coincidental that after a week in which we have been celebrating a number of significant anniversaries in our nation’s history, those who follow the weekly Torah portions will, this Shabbat, be reading Vayera (Genesis 16:1-22:24). This contains the account of Abraham’s intercessions for Sodom and Lot’s flight from the city just prior to its destruction.

In our looking back over Britain’s history we, like Abraham, have been sad for a people caught up in so much sin in our day. This sin has built up over several decades. Even as far back as 30 or 40 years ago, Christian leaders were beginning to say that if God were to forgive Britain He would need to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah. This echoes what Jesus said when He too mourned for the blindness and deafness of the cities of His day:

And you Capernaum, who are exalted to Heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Matt 11:23)

It is hard to accept that a great collapse is very close to Britain. Yet, looking back at God’s past blessings and hoping for what once was great to recover from the present decay, seems more and more unreal as time goes on.

Lot’s wife looked back - possibly with nostalgia, possibly with unrealism. She should have been looking forward and upward to the mountains where the family would resettle under God’s protection. As a consequence, she hesitated and died under the flames of God’s judgment on Sodom.

Jesus left us a clear warning for the last days prior to His return:

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon and in the stars; and on earth distress of the nations…Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Luke 21:25-28)

More and more we must look up with hope and not back with unreal nostalgia.

Author: Clifford Denton