“On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.” Luke 17:31 ESV.
Reflection: how will you respond when you see the King of kings?
We image that, when the King of kings is revealed in His majesty and glory, all Christians desire nothing more than to “leave this world behind” to join Him. I mean, why else have they been a Christian then in the first place? But in the last portion, v31-37, Jesus gives a warning about this. Now remember, He is directing this to the disciples; to his followers. And it starts out a bit cryptic, as we see in our focus verse today. He basically says those who are “on the housetop” must not “come down” to “collect their things”. What in the world does he mean by that??The clue unfolds in the next couple of verses, where he first says
“Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32 ESV
A very familiar story to the disciples, found in Genesis 19 (worth reading through for a reminder). Jesus had previously given the example of Lot that was saved, but here he makes the point about Lot’s wife. Let’s read a couple of verses from the story. “And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”Genesis 19:17, 23-26 ESV. Lot’s wife was given salvation, to leave the evil city, but she turned around, symbolizing her desire for the life and her things in the city.
After making this connection, Jesus then goes on saying “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” Luke 17:33 ESV. We might be familiar with this verse, as it is often quoted. Now, let’s circle back to the focus verse, to try to make some sense of it. If we consider the original language it was written in, we find a deeper meaning here. According to Strong, “A “Vessel” was a common Greek metaphor for “body” since Greeks thought of souls living temporarily in bodies”. So the house, and the goods in the house, can be thought of as our temporal life in the world; the housetop being our spiritual connection with God in Christ; our life in the Spirit. He says, on that day, don’t look back.
Paul wrote frequently about our new life in the Spirit. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”Romans 8:5 ESV. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 ESV.
The day of the Son of Man will come for all people. And the question to ask ourselves now is, what is it that we are working on today, truly seeking in life? To follow God’s ways, like Noah and Lot? Or the world? Or perhaps try to have one leg in each? That doesn’t work out well, as Lot’s wife found out. Jesus said to all his followers, and therefore to us, ““But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” Luke 21:34-36 ESV.
Are you ready to stand before the King of kings?
““Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 ESV