You will be judged as an individual

A family during prayers. Net PHOTOS.

What you need to know:

It’s all about you. Very many times, you will be in church and see people that seem to have been dragged for prayers forcefully. What many of these forget, salvation is not a show, it’s something personal, writes Beatrice Nakibuuka

Sometimes we are in church worshipping but most people’s minds are away. Some sleep, mind their phones; texting, chatting and conducting business with the preaching going on.
According to Pr Godfrey Lubwama, the head pastor SDA Kampala Central Church; we may be in the right church, getting the right message but miss out on heaven because you did not receive personal conversion.
From Lot’s story, salvation is personal that not even background can save you.
He says; “Some people leave the church because of worldly pleasures but all these perish. We should be in the world but always remember that we are not of the world. We need to take care of ourselves spiritually so we would remain in the presence of God.”
In a passage in Luke 17, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. His answer was a warning for them to be ready because the coming of the kingdom was to be sudden.
This would be compared to the floods in Noah’s day or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Lot’s day.
“The call to remember Lot’s wife in luke 17:32 is a call to awaken our sluggish memories and look back to the death of one soul who passed through this world, had a privilege of being married in a family that served a true God but lived in sin and died in sin. She looked back at a lost life, a lost lifestyle and a lost city,” says Pr Lubwama.
Before God’s judgment came on Sodom and Gomorrah, angels were sent to warn these people. “So the two men (angels) took the hands of Lot, his wife, and his two daughters and led them safely out of the city. So the Lord was merciful to Lot and his family.
After they brought them out of the city, one of the angels commanded them to “Run for your lives. Don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Run to the mountains, or you will be destroyed.”
Even after these clear instructions, Lot’s wife disobeyed and was instantly judged and transformed into a pillar of salt.
She was privileged because of her relationship with Lot and Abraham, the only family on the earth that was serving the one true God. However, this relationship with the clergy does not save us.

Other examples
Joab was the son of Zeruiah, a sister of King David, who made him captain of his army. On the brink of death, David told Solomon to have Joab killed for his past betrayals and the blood that he was of. He had lived close to David who is assumed to have been servant of God but strolled from the right paths.
In Prophet Elisha’s story of healing Naaman, his servant Gehazi died a leper because he took on gifts that his master had refused. He ought to have learnt the ways of God but did not follow them so God’s judgment was on him.
Like Lot’s wife, Joab or Gehazi, it is possible for those who have been converted to find themselves looking back longingly at the old life they lived in Sodom.
According to Pr Lubwama, when you are truly saved, you will not be able to enjoy the pleasures and allurements of the world as you did before because you have been made a new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17.
He says, “Everywhere there are professing Christians that want to dress, act, walk and talk like the world. People who say they know Jesus, but act like the unsaved around them. What they are doing is playing around with sin and treating it too lightly.”
When she looked back, she instantly became a pillar of salt. The judgement of God fell on her and she perished and was swallowed up in the wrath of God.
You may walk in sin for years, but one day judgement will surely come. One day, time will run out and there will be no more opportunities and no more calls to repentance, Gen. 6:3.
For Lot’s wife there was no pardon or second chance. She was gone and lost forever and nothing could be done about it. The time to prepare for eternal life is today, 2 Cor. 6:2. When time runs out on you, there will be no pardon after death except judgement. Your sentence will be settled forever.
If you feel lost or are guilty of looking back at the world, and of living like the world, flee the wrath of God.
Jesus has forgiveness and restoration for your soul. You will only get the help you need if you go to Him with faith in prayer, repentance and confession.
As we look forward to the coming Kingdom of God, we need to remember Lot’s wife. We need to avoid getting too attached to this world. We must grow closer to God and ensure we maintain a close relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.