Distractions

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.” . . .  But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.  (Genesis 19:17, 26, ESV)

I think one of my greatest annoyances in life is distracted drivers. They drift left, then right. Their speed is inconsistent, first fast, then slow. They are texting, watching their GPS, eating, or searching for something in their purse. They are a danger to themselves and others.

It’s easy to get distracted. We’ve all been guilty of getting sidetracked at some point during our day and losing focus. But some distractions are just downright dangerous.

The story of Lot, his wife, and two daughters fleeing Sodom is a familiar one, but their story leaves some unanswered questions. How did this righteous man (II Peter 2:7) find himself in such a situation anyway? Why did he choose to live in that wicked city and raise his children in such a sinful environment? We can only speculate on his reasons. With God’s judgment ready to fall on Sodom, the angels had to literally pull Lot and his family from the city. The instructions were clear: flee and don’t look back.

On that fateful day, Lot’s wife could have escaped unharmed had she not lagged behind and become distracted. Lot had already entered Zoar and safety, but she “looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26). What was she thinking? Did she look back with longing for the life that was no more? Or with regret for the friends she left behind? Or with anger at all she lost? We don’t know. But something pulled her eyes away from what should have been her primary goal—safety for herself and her family. That one look sealed her fate.

Someone once described distractions as anything that takes our eyes off God.

We could make a long list of things that can become distractions to us in our walk with God. Warning! Not all of them are sinful actions. Even church activities can become a distraction if we allow them to replace our personal devotional time with the Lord.

Here are just a few of the things that can distract us in our relationship with God if we aren’t careful.

• Money and possessions
• Worry and fear
• Busyness
• Temptations
• Hobbies and entertainment
• Social media
• Relationships
• Seeking the approval of others

Mark chapter 4 tells the parable of the sower and four different types of soil. The health of the soil determined if fruit could be produced. The thorny ground proved unproductive because of distractions that choked out the Word. It yielded no fruit. When we allow distractions to take our attention away from the Lord, we may be busy, but we aren’t producing fruit.

“But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19, ESV)

Why are distractions so dangerous? Because they are a tactic of Satan. He is devious. He doesn’t have to tempt us with “big sins.” All he must do is get us so involved with day-to-day life that we take our eyes off Jesus. First Peter 5:8 warns us:

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV)

Don’t let Satan deceive you. Stay alert to avoid the distractions that will cause us to be powerless and fruitless Christians. Make Psalm 119:15 your prayer today.

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (ESV)