AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF LOT
pt 1.Genesis 13:12-13
“Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”Lot had been influenced by the righteous man Abraham.
Lot had been instructed in the ways of a Holy God, he had been encouraged to prosper in every way by his uncle Abraham.
Abraham had allowed Lot to grow great wealth and a community of family that was influenced by every accomplishment of Lot.
Yet something in Lot, was drawing him away from the very God that had increased him.
That something was evidenced in the choices that Lot made whenever his uncle Abraham had allowed him to begin to determine his own way into the future.
Lot could have chosen any path in life, he could have chosen to continue in the fellowship of his uncle, and the greater protection that family brings.
Lot could have separated himself from Abraham in a manner different from the choice made, yes the way may have been more difficult and the road less traveled, but Lot forgot something about God .
He will bless direction, or He will curse direction, and the decision that Lot made determined the outcome.
In our world today, the sexually immoral seemingly have become normal.
Those who hold to a moral viewpoint of what is good in Gods eyes are considered by most to be prudent at the very least and ignorantly judgmental by most in the world and by many in the Church.
Sexual sin is rampant and encouraged in every age group in society.
The entertainment industry has assured this platform.
Television, books, magazines, movies, radio, fashion, and conversation, all have a common denominator, and that is sexual perversion.
An honest man or woman will tell you that their imaginations are at times overwhelmed with the thoughts of sex of all types.
There is no walk of life that is exempt from this terrible disease.
Politicians, employers, your family, your neighbors, the homeless in the street, and even the ministers behind the pulpit of so many churches have accepted the culture and even embraced sexual immorality of all kinds.
Those in authority flaunt it publicly as their freedom of choice, those under authority think that no one knows their perversion and then become militant whenever their secrets are revealed, and homes and churches are destroyed when the leaders of each can not control their sexual appetites.
Lies are told, lives are wrecked, fortunes are lost , and souls are condemned to hell, all for a few moments pleasure.
In a Foxnews story of late , the deviancy that has been promoted by many is going unchallenged, even as it affects First Grade school children.
The story of a class field trip for six and seven year old to attend the homosexual marriage of their school teacher has been documented and commented on.
The saddest commentary is that very few people see this as what it truly is, one of the vilest forms of promotion of the homosexual agenda.
Sadly enough many people whom would name the name of Jesus Christ as Lord are involved in much the same manner as Lot was. The have “pitched their tents toward Sodom,” they have allowed a prurient interest to consume them, they want to hear about it , talk about it, laugh about it, and to know all of the participants in the situations that they are familiar with.
One of the lesser rules of sociology states that if you can observe a manner and not be offended then in effect you approve of the manner.
Another is that if you can laugh at a situation that you once thought un-laughable then you have accepted it to the point that it is now tolerable.
The same things happened to the families of Lot.
They watched and listened, they laughed, they drew their tents a little closer.
They developed friendships, thinking that what their new friends do in private, will have no consequence on them personally, that they can control the situation.
The tents moved a little closer
, the community needed business partners, so they sought them out and invited them into the camp. Just for a little commerce. Nothing more.The thought began to develop that these folks are just like us, therefore there must be something wrong with our thinking. And they began to rethink their position, on the matter.
The tents crept ever closer to Sodom
.Perhaps they are not the immoral deviants that our fathers saw them as, perhaps they are just as loving in a family situation as we are, and just perhaps as they claim, the same God that we serve made them that way…….after all they claim they had no choice in the matter.
And just perhaps our interpretation of the bible is incorrect and theirs is the right one.
When we read that God mandated marriage to be between one man and one woman, we have misinterpreted the passage.
When we read that God has stated that he hates the sexually immoral, that again, we have not read the verse in the proper light.
When we read that no effeminate man, and no abuser of themselves with mankind, will inherit the kingdom of heaven, then we better begin to dig the plank from our eye as we have been blinded by lies of prejudice.
Whenever we read in the book of Romans 1:22-32 and 2:1-2 “Professing themselves to be wise they became fools. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in the that do them. (2) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.”
We have just read the truth………..it is not the words of the book that are incorrect, they are just as they are written.
It is the heart of man that is wrong………Sexual sin and sin of all kinds are detestable to a Holy God, there is no defense in regards to those who commit such acts, the Word has spoken and it will not be voided.
Those of Lots families were the same as we are today………they allowed tolerance for sin, and tolerance for those who admittedly commit such acts to be the cry of the camp……….
The next thing we see in the story of Lot is that he is now a member in good standing in the community of Sodom, as he is now sitting in the gate.
In part two of our commentary we will look at what happened to Lots family as the standard of holiness, blended with the standard of a depraved society.
In the meantime; if you have never accepted the fact that all men (including you and me) have sinned, and are willing to acknowledge that sin and accept Jesus Christ as your only hope for forgiveness, We would encourage you to wait no longer.
Cry out to Jesus to forgive you, to cleanse you with His blood and to indwell you with His Spirit, and to give you the strength to flee from the sin of the past.
