Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE LK17:28-32.
Lot was the son of Haran, Abraham’s brother. His father died in the land of his nativity in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 11:28) and Abraham took care of him. Abraham was personally and specifically called by God to go out from among his kindred. Lot did not hear God but he followed Abraham. So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him. Gen 12:4. Lot and his wife benefited from the privileges God gave unto Abraham due to his obedience. They enjoyed the raising of the altar of worship, the meeting of Melchizedek and the angelic visitation to his house. They received the warning about the impending judgement of doom on Sodom and Gomorrah and the opportunity to escape to safety. Lot’s wife witnessed all these spectacular events and yet lost the eternal blessing. The same is what we find concerning the children of Israel, who despite the great privileges they had, came short of God’s expectation. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Isa 5:4. It was a similar case with them during the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. They therefore had no excuse for their unbelief and doubt. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin. Jn15:22, 24. Great privileges do not automatically result in the salvation of the recipients. It is not all children born of believing parents who eventually get saved. It is not all who hear the word of God in the church that get born again and live holy lives. Remember Lot’s wife-she lost all despite such great privileges.
Check the privileges God has given you in the past. What did you do with them? What did it translate to in your relationship with God and your preparation for the journey to the great beyond? How has God’s goodness in your life prepared you for a blissful or damnable life in eternity? Has God’s privileges in your life equipped you for a glorious future or did you misuse them to the detriment of your soul in hell? Lot misused his opportunities and he paid dearly for it. Why not learn a lesson from Lot or are you waiting for the same fate befall you? Think wise, act wise and surrender to Jesus Now to avoid had I known.
THE CONDITION OF LOT’S DAYS
As far back as the old world, all flesh had corrupted their way and the earth was filled with violence. The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. They were given enough and serious warnings about the ruin that was to come upon them for their sins. They were given timely notice of what would be the result of their wicked ways but they did not regard all such warnings. They were very secure and went on in their business unconcerned. They did eat, drank and indulged themselves in their sinful pleasures. They took no care of anything else but to make provision for the flesh. They not only married but actually multiplied wives. Marriage and burial ceremonies was the order of the day. They were busy with buying and selling, planting and building. These were lawful but the fault was that they minded these inordinate and earthly things above their relationship with God. When they should have been like the men of Nineveh, fasting and praying, repenting of their sins upon the warning of approaching judgement, they were going securely, eating flesh, dancing, drinking and making merry. They continued in their false security and sensuality till the threatened judgement came. Until the day that Lot went out of Sodom, nothing said or done to them served to alarm or awaken them. Truly, the days of Lot are already here with this generation. Immorality, iniquity, lawlessness, unwarranted celebrations, godless lifestyle, wickedness, filthy communication, commerce (buying and selling), worldliness and worldly pleasures, love of money, power and material things have taken over both the church goers and non-church goers. If there is anytime one must escape, it is now.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. And they said, stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. Gen 19:4-7,9. The men of Sodom surrounded the house both old and young from every quarter with the aim to commit immorality with the two male strangers that just entered their city. This is homosexuality. What a shame that both father and son were involved in this same unholy mission. Even the married men among them were also involved. In Sodom iniquity and sensuality was legalized. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Lk 17:28-29. Necessary and unnecessary celebrations was the order of the day in Sodom as it is today in our time. This kind of atmosphere acts as a fertile ground that breeds immorality. Night parties, drinking joints are conducive atmosphere where lawlessness and all sorts of atrocities thrives. Dirty, wicked, unholy and unlawful lifestyle of the men of Sodom vexed even Lot. How much more with this ungodly lifestyle anger the holy God who inhabits eternity.
What is the condition of your life? Have you allowed the filthy condition of our present day to contaminate your life? Has the unholy and unlawful conversation of this generation overtaken you and pushed you to the mud? The blood of Jesus is available to cleanse you if you will sincerely repent, renounce all sin and rest your faith on Christ’s death on the cross. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE and do not plunge yourself into the same error she found herself. This is your opportunity to escape. DO NOT WASTE IT.
THE COMMAND TO LOT
God’s command to Lot was for him to escape out of Sodom without looking back. He was to go beyond the plains and move to the mountains. And the men said unto Lot, hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the lord; and the Lord hast sent us to destroy it. Gen 19:12-13. The command to Lot to escape from Sodom was urgent and therefore must not be delayed. He that shall be on the house top, when the alarm is given, let them not come down to take his goods away because he cannot spare so much time, and the carrying away of his properties will encumber and retard his escape. It will be better to leave or abandon earthly gains behind than to stay to look after it and perish with them that believe not. Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Acts 2:40.
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his life, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Gen 19:16-17. Lot and his family was not ready and willing to leave Sodom but God gave him a specific instruction to escape to the mountain. Instead of immediate obedience, Lot was lingering in Sodom. Where are you lingering now? In immorality thinking the relationship will metamorphose into marriage? Why are you still lingering in sin. Why not drop that dubious character, business and friendship. Are you waiting for it to destroy you before you decide to obey God’s word? There were many things that tied Lot down in Sodom. What are the things that the devil is using to tie you down in the world. Jesus can and willing to break them if you will give him a chance.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.1Jn 2:15-17. The command here is simple and direct – LOVE NOT THE WORLD. Lot loved Sodom. Your inordinate love for the systems and style of life of the world will destroy your relationship with God. Do not love the things in the world namely: the lust of the flesh (inordinate crave for sexual immorality), the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. They will pass away like the dew of the morning. Do not spend your time and resources on temporary, perishable pleasures which endures only for a moment. They will soon vanish away into nothingness. Escape to Jesus who is the Great Refuge for sinners. Stop lingering in sin. Come to Him for safety and security and you will be forgiven and saved from the consequences of sin.
THE CONTAMINATION AND COMPROMISE OF LOT’S FAMILY
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Gen 19:14. Contrary to scriptural injunction, Lot allowed his daughters to go into unequal yoke in marriage with the people of Sodom. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. Gen 34:14-17. Lot compromised the standard and was subsequently contaminated by the heathen. No wonder they saw him only as one that mocked. He was also unequally yoked together with them in business. His treasures were laid deeply in Sodom and it was difficult for the wife to let go. She looked back and became a pillar of salt.
Everyday we are faced with choices in life, even in little seemingly inconsequential matters. In life every man is faced with a choice that has eternal consequences. A choice for Heaven or hell. Lot was faced with this choice. Regrettably, he choose to wine and dine with the men of Sodom who were simply described as wicked whose sin was very grievous. This uncontrollable sinful life style of the men of Sodom contaminated Lot and his family members. He compromised the undiluted faith in the living God which he previously learnt from his uncle Abraham. Your friends, business and political associates, classmates, colleagues in ministry could be a source of compromise to the faith which was once delivered to you. They could be the reason you lost your first love for the Lord of your life. They may have created a gap or a crack in your relationship with the Lord and you suddenly lost interest in things of the Lord. The world may have taken a strong hold on you and you forgot the Saviour of your life. Why not retrace your step and return to Him now that the opportunity is still available. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thought: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7. It is time for all prodigal sons and daughters to willingly and whole heartedly return to their Lord Jesus who sacrificially shed his precious blood for them on the cross. IT IS YOUR TURN. DO IT AND YOU WILL HAVE PEACE IN HIM.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOOKING BACK
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2Pt 2:20-22. When by the grace of God, you escape for your life, never think or plan of returning. Remember Lot’s wife and take warning from her not only to flee from Sodom but to also persevere in your flight and do not look back as she did. Those who have left Sodom must go forward and never to look towards it again lest they should be tempted to go back to it in their heart. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, that she might remain a lasting monument of God’s displeasure against apostates who begin in the spirit and end in the flesh. Whosoever shall seek to save his life by falling from grace and compromising with the world shall definitely lose it and then perish in the same calamity with them unless there is opportunity of restoration which is rare. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. Ecc 7:8. Lot’s wife began well by escaping from the inferno that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah but could not reach the ultimate place of safety and security. She looked back and became a pillar off salt. Will you look back like her?
