Genesis 19 -- Not To Love The World

The two angels left Abraham’s tent and appeared in Sodom as Lot sat in a position of importance at the city gate.  “Lot’s heart was in Sodom long before his body arrived there.  No doubt he got his first love for the world when he went to Egypt with Abraham.  Worldliness is not a matter of physical geography but of heart attitude,” my commentary said.

The Lord had appeared with the angels at Abraham’s tent, but He could not fellowship with Lot and his family because even though Lot was a believer, his life was such that the Lord did not feel at home with him, my commentary noted.

Lot’s personal values had been effected by his worldliness, too.  The middle eastern code of hospitality required him to protect guests in his home.  He chose to offer his unmarried daughters to the mob outside his door to protect his guests.

With less than ten righteous people in these wicked cities, the angels were charged with destroying them, but they did not destroy the righteous with the wicked.  They rescued them in God’s mercy.  But Lot was so out of the will of God that “God had to take Lot by the hand and forcibly drag him out of Sodom.  First, Lot lingered; then he argued; then he begged to be allowed to go his own way.  Instead of being gratified for God’s mercy and obeying his rescuers, Lot resisted them and created trouble for them … Lot lost everything when Sodom was destroyed … Lot was conformed to the world.  All that he lived for went up in smoke and was buried under ruins … Lot is a warning to all believers not to love the world, because the day of reckoning finally comes.”

Lastly, my commentary quoted wise words from Isaiah 55:6-7.  “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy upon him; AND [return] to our God; for He will abundantly pardon.”

It’s not just our actions that pull us away from God, but also our thoughts, and both must be surrendered to God.  He is merciful and He wants to hear us apologize and ask forgiveness not just for what we’ve done, but also for what we’ve thought but not done.  Lot’s thoughts stayed with him from Egypt to Sodom, and though he was called righteous, his unwillingness to give them up and separate himself to God almost cost him his life.

Father, please examine my thought life and help me to admit to You what thoughts I have that don’t honor You.  Give me the strength I need to let them go.  Don’t let me ever believe that it isn’t a sin to just think about and not do anything that is out of Your will.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford