If any man was ever an enigma, it was Lot. Peter said he was a "righteous soul" (2 Pet. 2:8). Yet as we study his life (Gen. 13-19) we find many glaring faults. So we must, as with all men, leave his judgment up to God. Yet we can learn much from him.

Look at his choice. The verdant plain of Jordan appealed to him and so in that direction he "pitched his tent" (Gen. 19:10-12). In this he walked by sight and not by faith. He wa influenced by what the human eye told him was good rather than what reason would say was evil. How about our choices? Are they made by faith or by sight? with a view to time or to eternity? what we want or what God wants? What a tragedy that many are still on the road to Sodom - and will find themselves sitting where Lot sat!

Look at his position. He "sat in the gate of Sodom" (Gen. 19:1). Here was a place of prominence (cf. Ruth 4:1; Est. 2:19, 21; Jer. 7:1). Yes, Lot had really "come up in the world!" How about our position in the world? When we find pleasure in fellowship with ungodly men we will soon begin to share their iniquity. Your friendship with the world is a furtherance of the cause of the world. We need to be extremely careful in the position we occupy.

Lood at the message he received. "The Lord has sent us to destroy this place," said the messengers of God (Gen. 19:13). God will destroy wicked places, things and people. This wickedness is precisely why they must be destroyed. Think on this: If all the wicked things of the Christian should be destroyed, he should not lose one thing! When our affections are set on things above (Col. 3:1-2), and when destruction comes, our inheritance will be untouched.

Look at the warnings he bore. Lot went out and warned his sons in law - yet he was mocked by them (Gen. 19:14f)! Some of this may have been because of Lot's own inconsistency. We, like him, must warn people of impending doom. Yet these warnings often go largely unheeded (2 Pet. 3:3ff).

Look at the reluctance he showed. "While he ed ..." (19:16) shows his concern for the "good life" of Sodom. He d to leave the comforts of home. Sometimes we are like Lot - so enmeshed in the affairs of the world that when called upon to God God's bidding, we "dilly-dally" around about it. We need to learn the urgency of following God now.

Look at the request he made. "This city is near; let  me escape hither" (19:24). God had told him to escape to the mountain (19:17), but Lot wanted to go to Zoar, which God finally allowed him to do. Could it be that by citing the nearness of Zoar, Lot implied the mountain was too far from Sodom? How do we feel about separation from sin? Do we want to get as far from it as possible, or "keep it handy" when we want it? Wisdom dictates that we stay as far removed as possible. "Abstain from every appearance of evil."

Look at the favor he enjoyed. God said, "I can do nothing till thou be come hither ..." (19:22). Lot had his faults, but just like all men, he was precious to God. Judgment would not fall upon Sodom until Lot was gone. Do we appreciate the favor of God today? is not the "salt of the earth" - the Christian - all that keeps God's wrath from falling? Until we "come out of the world," God's work will be at a standstill - for we are here to do his work.

Lot had his virtues, but he also had his vices and faults - but we cannot be his judge. He had a knowledge of and a respect for God. Yet he placed himself in almost impossible surroundings and circumstances. We need to "look at Lot" and learn lessons from him. We need to turn from the "Sodom" of our day - they will corrupt as surely as Lot was affected by the Sodom of his day. The greater problem today seems to lie in the number of Sodoms we have to face!  - Bill Moseley

 

He was a collector of rare books, and had made his way to the neighborhood "garage sale" where a fellow told him he had just sold an old Bible for 25 cents (that's 25 cent here in the south). When asked who the publisher was the fellow said, "oh, I don't really remember, but it seems that it was put out by some by the name of 'Guten' - something or other." The collector almost swallowed his ears. "Don't you know that was a 'Gutenberg Bible,' one of the rarest and most famous books ever printed, and was worth about $4 million!" "Oh, not my copy, said the seller in ignorant bliss. "Some guy by the name of 'Martin Luther' had scribbled his name right across the front page."

And here we are - with books at our disposal that are the most famous in the world. Some were written by a fellow named Paul; others have Peter's or Matthew's name attached to them. Some of them have even been "scribbled all over" by fellows like Amos, Isaiah and Jeremiah - and they don't cost nearly $4 million dollars!

The tragedy? Most people don't know any more about their worth that the guy who would throw away a Gutenberg Bible! Maybe its because they don't cost as much, but I hope not. They are there for the taking, and yet lots of folks simply ignore them. Their laws are perfect; their threatenings are ominous - but at the same time their promises are precious.
- Bill Moseley