Brethren,
We all know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah starring Lot, Lots Wife, The 3 Angels, The Mad Mob and a brief cameo by Abraham. In some weirdly myopic way, a lot of us have always seen LOT as a bad man! An example of what not to do! In my eyes he was the Antithesis to Abraham: mostly judging from his results. This impression was fostered since ‘my book of bible stories days’ and has stuck ever since.
Shockingly enough, LOT’s report card by the Holy Spirit was that he was a ‘RIGHTEOUS MAN’. I.e. He was among the saved. (Not born of the Spirit like we new testament Christians are, but saved nonetheless by the Old Testament standards).
2 Peter 2:6-8 tells us
6: if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7: and if he rescued Lot, A RIGHTEOUS MAN, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8: (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard).
In the small spectrum of the ‘Christian Walk’, there are 2 fundamental types of Christians;
On one side of the spectrum are the LOT Christians who are:
(1) Cold to the spirit,
(2) Walking in self will (Run their lives solely on their selfish ambitions),
(3) Oblivious to their ‘personal calling’,
(4) are living in a continuous cycle of Victory & Defeat (Gain & Loss)
On the opposite side of the spectrum are the ‘Abraham Christians’ who are;
(1) Attuned to the spirit (indicative of clear communication with GOD),
(2) LED by the spirit (in their decision making and how they live their lives),
(3) living in greater VICTORY (90% GAIN) and to crown it all off ,
(4) Understand their ‘divine purpose’ and are walking in it…..
Somewhere in between both extremes is a ‘walk’. A walk of faith to ‘maturity’ or backsliding into ‘depravity’. In Genesis 12, we see that Abraham and Lot started their Journey together, probably from the same point of faith. When GOD gave Abram the directive in Gen 12:1 to ‘get out from your country, your family, your father’s house, to a land that i will show you‘, Abrams obedience to this direction from GOD was denoted to him as faith in Hebrews 11:8. If it was faith which prompted Abraham to leave Haran, was it any less faith on the part of Lot? Some might say that he was younger, and therefore he had little choice. But his sister, Milcah, was left behind. He did have a choice. He chose to go with Abraham;
Assuredly, this was an act of faith on Lot’s part as well! Yet, he was not singled out for this act of faith as was Abraham later in the bible. Why? Because his faith did not continue to grow to maturity and herein lies the dilemma facing many christians today.
In the Scriptures we are taught that God expects us to grow in our relationship with him.
1 Peter2:2
”Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation’‘,1 Peter 2:4
4: As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him
5: you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Philipians 2:12
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”2 Peter3:17-19
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
By Genesis 13:5 we see that Lot became a very rich man. Alongside Abram he increased in livestock, tents, and herds so much so that the land could not contain them both.
Fast Forward to Gen 19:30 and brother Lot ends up desolate in a cave with nothing left but his two daughters, who by the way get him drunk so they can sleep with him and be pregnant by their father! Talk about a spectacular fall from grace!!!
In between Genesis 13 & 19
- Lot had grown to become a very rich. (GAIN),
- Been captured & taken prisoner (LOSS), (-off all his possessions and earlier gains).
- Been rescued and restored (GAIN),
- Risen to a prominent position in the town (GAIN?) *from the perspective of his ambition,
- And then lost his wife and all his possessions (LOSS) in the fire and brimstone destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
This endless cycle of gain and loss is indicative of those who dwell in the spiritual plain, refusing to heed the call to come up higher) and is opposite to the continuous life of victory that Abraham had. Sadly this depicts the cycle of a lot of Christian lives today.
You’d be forgiven for thinking “well Abraham succeeded because he was special”, Yes Abraham was special, but the core difference between Lot and Abraham wasn’t because Abraham was specially chosen by God and Lot wasn’t! NO! (Lot could just have easily gotten his own vision and covenant from God if he desired it so, “for God is no respecter of persons” Romans 2:11) Whatever they experienced, they brought upon themselves by their CHOICES! The choice to walk with GOD steadfastly! Or The Choice not to(rather choosing to be focused on worldly goals)!. The choice to “Hunger and Thirst after righteousness” Mathew 5:6 or the “Choice to live a lukewarm Christian life”.
Nowhere is this difference between Abraham & LOT made more glaring than in the practice of ALTAR BUILDING!!!!!
Deuteronomy 30:15
“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster…. (New Living Translation)
Altars where a place of worship and fellowship. The ‘meeting place’ between GOD and man, and this is evident all through from the experiences of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and the patriarchs.
All through Genesis, It was recorded that Abraham built Altars to GOD everywhere he went, and as a result he had multiple encounters with GOD where GOD’s Thoughts, Purpose, and Direction for his life where made known to him. It was at one such encounter that his new name ‘Abraham’ was given him, that he received the promise and eventually the covenant. Abraham’s full maturity came at the point where GOD regarded him as a ‘Friend’ whom he confided in and physically visited as a guest in his home. Genesis 18:17
Nowhere in the bible do you ever hear of LOT building an Altar to GOD. As such no where do you hear of LOT having any encounters with GOD [The Angels dragging him out of Sodom doesn’t count! 🙂 ] . Yes LOT would have as a member of Abrams family partook in the ‘corporate sacrifices and group prayers’ (kind of like church activities) that Abram as the Priest & Prophet of the household would have led prior to their separation. But soon as Abram and LOT go their separate ways, LOT never continues this tradition, not even to show thanksgiving to GOD for sparing his life in the destruction of SODOM like Noah did in Gen 8:20 after the Flood.
There are many opportunities LOT had to build an altar (consult with GOD) which could have changed the eventual course/story of his life: e.g.
- When he came out of Egypt with Abram….Gen 12
Perhaps GOD would have given Lot his own direction and purpose, which would have separated him unto his own unique path to glory before he was forced into the decision by Abraham”s call for separation - When Abram asked that they go separate ways: Gen 13:6-13
If he had built an altar to seek GOD’s counsel, he may not have “chosen” based on materialistic and fleshly desires of his heart by settling towards the plains of Sodom (where the mixed-multitude dwell)Gen 13:10 “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well wateredeverywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other”.
- After Abram had saved him from Captivity. Genesis 14
Perhaps GOD would have revealed that Sodom was eventually doomed & he should not return there. - After He Lost All in the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah.Genesis 19
There’s never any irreversible case with GOD, Perhaps after all these lessons, if only LOT had remembered the GOD of Abraham & built an altar to him, GOD may have set him on a path of total recovery – like Job who received a double portion of all he had lost in in Job 42:12
Job 42:12
12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;16 After this Job lived 140 years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.
Friends, the moral of this comparison is this:
- Christianity is meant to be a pilgrimage with GOD, Where we are continually growing from childhood to Maturity. GOD saved us that we ourselves might be fishers of men after going through his process, and in so doing “show forth his praises” 1 peter 2:9
- To walk steadfastly with GOD is entirely YOUR decision, and it is a deeply personal one. It is more about what happens in your closet – how you act when you’re all alone than what ‘image’ you create in front of people.
- How seriously you take GOD is how seriously he takes you. Abraham took GOD seriously as such, GOD defended Abraham’s interests (because they where ‘aligned’ with his) even when he fell into error in Gen 12:10-20 &Gen 20:1-8, Yet GOD made ‘all things work together for good” for Abraham.
Whereas with LOT, GOD was only committed to saving LOT’s life as a result of his character as a just GOD who would not “destroy the righteous with the wicked Gen 18:23
Friends too many of us Christians claim GOD today, but does GOD claim us?
What is his report card about you right now? Have you bothered to find out?
In the popular song ‘ I am a friend of GOD ‘ by Israel Houghton the more significant part of that song is ‘He calls me Friend‘. Can GOD call you friend?
About Abraham, GOD himself testified
19For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”
In Conclusion:
In this age, we have become selective about the parts of the bible and Christianity in general, choosing to lay hold on the claims & promises of the word which abound, but selectively ignoring the ‘other parts’ that speak to sacrifice, righteousness, to sin, to our walk with GOD, the state of our hearts etc. If we continue in this vein – then we may be walking deceitfully! May we not find this to be the case on the day of judgment where everyman will stand for himself! & all his work will be tried by fire!
Mathew 6:32-33
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) ….33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
One of the ways of seeking GOD is by fellowshipping with him. If we are not personally fellowshipping with GOD then can we really be seeking first his kingdom? Perhaps we are seeking him for a means to an end – not as the end in himself. We each need to ask ourselves, exactly why am i a Christian? Is it just because i was born into a Christian family?
For those who do not take the issue of knowing GOD seriously, LOT’s life offers a vivid example of how you can gain the world, make the Forbes list, and other worldly pursuits but at the end of the day it counts for nothing! LOT never even left an inheritance for his Children!!! Abrahams’ blessings abound with us even till this day!!!
For those of us who are Christians but our spiritual houses are an abandoned project, let us make a personal decision to come to the LORD so that he may “BUILD US INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
Being full of church worker bee activities doesn’t guarantee that you know GOD or neither is it a substitute for that personal walk.
Friends the best decision you can make this year is to spend quality personal time in his presence (building altars) so that like Abraham you may lay hold on your calling and your vision, and obtain a good report in the end.
The Lord Bless You
The Revealed Word. 