You have heard the sayings: “There are two sides to a story.” Or “There are two sides to a sheet of paper.” Equally there are two sides to a sheet of flypaper. It makes a huge difference which side the fly chooses to land on! The one side means life and the other side means death.
Our decisions might or might not result in death, but they might result in serious problems … and because we are dealing with spiritual matters it is possible that like Lot we might lose our souls … and that means death … eternal death!
We are using Lot as an illustration and an example about making choices … and have said that each day we are confronted with making choices. In trying to unpack the story of Lot we have considered his roots; relocation; economic status; growth in wealth creating problems; employees becoming aggressive; a wise and gracious uncle as well as Lot making his first questionable choice. This choice was the start of his downward spiral into immorality and consciously blocking God out of his life bit by bit. The point of these Daily Notes is to assist you and me not to go down the pathway Lot chose for himself … which influenced and affected his family. After Lot made his decision … and we pick up the story in Genesis 13:11-13 … Lot gravitated towards his downfall.
Gen 13:11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.
After all the years of Abram’s fatherly care for Lot … separation took place. It must have been as painful for Abram as it is for a “blood parent” saying goodbye to his child who moves to a distant country. As we noted yesterday, Lot chose the lush valley of green pastures and running waters for his flocks and herds … but this was not good enough for him. Look where he pitched his tents … amongst the cities of the plain … but expressly … “near Sodom”.
Initially, you might think … “so what” … until you read verse 13 … “Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.” This is equivalent to a farm girl or boy coming to the city to study and being exposed to the night life and “low life” attractions such as alcohol, drugs and sex. If friends made are morally questionable, they could easily be a magnet to pull the unsuspecting country kid into the vices of city life. Although our text says “the men of Sodom” (men who were either plain homosexual or bisexual), we must never forget there are women in cities as well. City life must have been a huge attraction to the cattle farmer Lot. His initial choice has progressed towards finding himself getting closer to the tentacles of spiritual imprisonment. Never forget Paul’s words, inspired by the Spirit:
2Co 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Before gravitating towards pleasure that is sinful, as followers of the Lord Jesus we need to stop … and evaluate what we are about to get ourselves into, what the consequences will be and to what extent we are about to offend our Lord with the intended rebellion.
Never forget sin is what Jesus came to die for in our place. Never forget what our sin cost Him. Ask … does what I am about to do anger our Lord? Does this desire to return to my “before Christ” days bring scorn upon the Blessed Name of Jesus? Will my actions insult the Gospel … even if it’s in total privacy? You see, Lot found himself far away from the protection and security of Uncle Abram. By choice he was in a literal physical and spiritual wilderness. He left his spiritual home and protection willingly. In one way … not to the end though … he was like the prodigal son … only the prodigal son returned to his father in confession of sin, repentance and faith. Lot never did! The world out there might seem so enjoyable because of its advertising of worldliness, materialism, secularism and sexual expression … but like all Hollywood Movies … it’s not real. In fact … idols are not real … they are fake gods … yet in their fakeness they have power to seduce you to the point of captivation which could lead to oppression and eventual possession. Don’t underestimate the enemy. All the trimmings are actually trappings. But then we are warned:
2 Cor 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
If you are gravitating towards your downfall … it’s never too late to make a conscious decision to change! It is never too late to return to the Lord Jesus. It is never too late to repent like the prodigal son did. Yet having said “it is never too late” … I am not saying you may continue in falling downwards … to change later. Such a thought might lead to the situation where it is impossible to return to Jesus … like Lot! That in itself proves you were never a child of God to start with! Friend, if you are in that downward spiritual spiral … come back to Jesus now!
Dear Loving, Gracious and Merciful Lord, this Daily Note might have hit home in someone’s soul. Help them today to repent and change their ways through repentance before they arrive at the point of no return. Help us who read the Note to be cautious and careful in all choices so that we don’t stray from Your Fatherly Heart. Amen.