Lot and his uncle, Abram, had amassed great wealth and belongings. Their servants and laborers lived and worked together. As expected, there was strife between the two companies.
Abram, in his wisdom, realized that the two groups, their livestock, and workers, should separate. The patriarch allowed his brother’s son to pick (Gen. 13) where he, his possessions, and workers would go. Lot chose the choicest land.
Although the city Lot picked was prosperous, and the surrounding lands were lush, it turned out to be a terrible, costly choice. He chose to inhabit Sodom.
There was great wickedness in the city and included violence and rampant homosexuality. Its indulgence in iniquity angered God Almighty. So much was the Creator outraged by the out-of-control lasciviousness and other sins, he planned to destroy it and other surrounding cities.
The Lord shared His plans (Gen. 18) for the city with Abram (at this time known as Abraham). On hearing that God was to destroy where his nephew dwelt, he pleaded with the Lord to spare Lot’s dwelling place. At first, he reasoned with God to spare the city if 50 righteous people were found among those committing grievous sins.
Perhaps Abraham thought some and then remembered the rumors of atrocities occurring in the city. He lowered his request to 45. More consideration was most likely given to the community’s wickedness. Then he dropped his plea to God for 40, then 30, then 20, and finally asked God if He would spare the city if only ten righteous people were found.
God’s angels went to the city and warned Lot of Sodom’s soon demise. On hearing of the impending destruction, he pleaded with his daughter’s husbands to get their family’s to flee. They would not. Ten righteous people could not be found. All he could gather to leave were his wife and two daughters.
As they took flight, perhaps by being so enamored with Sodom’s worldly pleasures and luxuries, Lot’s wife looked back one more time at the place she would miss. Because she disobeyed God’s commandment not to look back, she was turned into a pillar of salt.
The two young ladies may have escaped destruction from raining fire and brimstone, but their minds were corrupted by the ideas and sights they had experienced in Sodom. Without his knowing, they committed incest with their father.
Lot, who knew what was righteous, got too close to sin and paid an outrageous price for it. Because of his poor decision, he lost his married daughters, sons-in-law, wife, wealth, and his virgin daughters were spoiled by the city’s behavior to which they were exposed. His focus on the trinkets that fluttered before his eyes cost him more than he ever imagined his temptation and toleration for worldliness and sin would cost him. The man was in a place a godly person should never have been.
Many shake their head and wonder why a man who had “it all” would make such a poor decision and lose the important things in his life. Unfortunately, most, including many Christians, make similar poor choices, as did Lot. They choose to live in, work around, or associate with ungodly “Sodom”s and do not consider what damage it may do to them and their relationship with the Lord.
Soon, because they allow themselves to be exposed to ungodly activities, they accept and are involved in the same things the ungodly are. The Lord and His ways have been given a very back seat because of their love for “things,” fixation on entertainment, and all the attractive things this world offers. So many, including “Christians,” give little thought to obeying God’s commandments, if any at all.
A quick examination of the lives of even Christians today reveals little difference than the ungodly. Many have allowed themselves to be contaminated by sin’s enticing grip.
People have allowed themselves to be enamored by the cares and things of this world so much that they never intend to leave the “Sodom” they chose. Dishonesty, sexual sins, adultery, substance abuse, no regard to the sanctity of life, violence, laziness, and most sins God hates are no longer viewed as evil. Those iniquities are so accepted that they are themes in movies and literature and are sought as entertainment.
Not only is it sinful to be involved in what God hates, but it does other damage. As happened to the daughters of Lot, daily seeing and hearing iniquity eventually desensitizes the exposed to wrong-doing. It no longer bothers most, as they get used to depravity and soon tolerate it. The constant bombardment of accepting wrong-doing from all forms of media has done that to the majority today.
However, what was sin in Lot’s day is still sin today. What ruined a person who should have known better then will do the same now. God’s wrath was poured out on sinners then, and it will not be spared in our day. There always will be a payday for iniquity someday.
We may not be able to flee to a faraway sin-free place, but we do not have to accept the sin and tolerate what we see or hears. Avoid places and people that will soil minds and testimonies. Speak up and let God’s morals and commandments be heard by many that have never been aware of what He hates.
Christians should battle sin, not surrender to it. We cannot stop all the evilness around us, but we can be an untolerating light that exposes it.
Christian, separate yourself from sin. Do not look longingly to the ungodliness of this world, as did Lot’s wife. It will cost you more than you would want to pay if tolerated.
We must be the steadfast example of what the world needs to see. They also need to hear what is right in God’s eyes from our lips. We may not be able to save an entire city or nation from reaping the consequences of their sin, but if just ten or more escape the ultimate punishment of Hell, then it will be worth any hardship or trials we will endure. If we do not tell or show others, who will?
— Bill Brinkworth
