http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019-21&version=NIV
“…Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Genesis 19:17
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is told of in Genesis chapter 19. In Genesis 13, where Abram and Lot separate – we see the foreshadowing of things to come, see verses 12 and 13, below.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. (Genesis 13:12-13)
That Sodom and Gomorrah were evil places, there is no doubt. In verse 5, we read that the men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with the two angels. Then we read of the despicable way Lot offered his two daughters to the mob instead of the men Lot let into his house. While it is commendable that Lot wants to protect his guests, it is horrid that he would offer his daughters to the mob to achieve this purpose. Bad company has begun to corrupt good morals. (See 1 Corinthians 15:33)
Continuing on, when the angels tell Lot to leave he hesitates. (See vs. 16) The ESV translates this more accurately, I believe, when it reads he lingered. Lot had fallen in love with the world. And verse 16 also states that the angels physically had to move Lot and his family out of Sodom because even faced with the city’s destruction he wanted to stay.
As Jesus said we must be in the world but not of it. We must minister to others while not partaking in their sin. The angels tell Lot and his family to leave and don’t look back. But Lot’s wife does look back, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
That sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it? How many times have we taken a second glance when we know we shouldn’t have? In Lot’s wife instance, she was only allowed one glance.
As Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32
Let’s look at this passage in its context:
28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot's wife! 33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:28-:32)
What Jesus is saying is that we need to be fully committed to Him and be ready for His Second Coming, which may happen at any moment. He says we should not go back to the ways of the world, but that we should first seek His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
As Christians, let us remember that we are aliens here on earth. Our home is in God’s kingdom.
As Paul wrote, “20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20-21
Let Lot's wife be a reminder to us, to press on and not look back. The Lord has great things for us in the future. Let's get ready for them now by living lives of holiness and submission in the present.
To God be the Glory.
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Thank you for your reminder that we are aliens to this world. Since Childhood, I've always heard it said that we are aliens to earth, and only "temporary residents". It's so easy to talk a GOOD GAME, but how many of us actually are in the World but not of it. We say and try to believe that we are, but just look around...Yes, that's right, even at Second Baptist! There seems to be nothing wrong with having nice things and trying to be first class because the Lord has plans for us to prosper; however, I have actually NEVER met anybody who does not suffer from problems with idolatry. I look at the news clips of the Haiti situation. These people have nothing, have lost so much and so many. Yet they have everything: Their faith!! Some of them have huge smiles on their faces. WOW!! I want and pray to have that kind of faith, peace, and hope. I think I do and say I do, but I don't know for sure.
ReplyDelete**Thanks so much for your last comment-->...by living lives of holiness and submission in the present.
-->Just as James teaches that no man can control his tongue, it is almost just as difficult not to "chase" STUFF. Let me remember that in the end, there won't be a trailer behind my hurst.
Lot is given to us as an example of how the Lord is able to deliver the righteous out of temptation. This is of great importance to us for the Lord said the environment of society right before His second coming will be like the days of Lot. Just as God delivered Lot, He will also deliver His children
ReplyDelete2 Pet 2:7-9
and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Luke 17:28-30
"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
What can happen to believers in Christ as they live in Sodom
1. Lot had yoked himself with unbelievers. He calls the people of Sodom “brethren”
His only fellowship is with unbelievers.
2. Lot loses his testimony among them. As he warns of coming judgment, they mock him as one who is joking.
Lot’s thinking was corrupted by the people he was hanging with. He was willing to give his daughters over to a homosexual mob
3. Lot forsakes the assemble of himself together with the righteous (Abraham)
Even after being rescued by Abraham, he still desires to live in Sodom
4. Lot delays his obedience to flee. Instead of saying,” Yes Lord” his attitude is “No, Lord”
5. Lot is told to flee to mountains but instead flees to city of Zoar
He thought his plan was better than God’s
Lot figured his way of thinking was better than doing God’s will. But our way of thinking only produces fear and lack of confidence just as it did in Lot.
The last thing mentioned of Lot is him getting drunk in a cave and being seduced by his own daughters.
God is able to deliver us. He is able to deliver us from what ever mess we might have gotten ourselves into. Shall we be like Lot and say, “No, my Lord” or shall we submit to what God wants us to do and say, “Yes, my Lord” The choice is ours