“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it” (Eze. 16:49-50). There are millions of people who are afraid presently. It does not take more than a casual glance at any news media to realize the world is very, very unstable. While there are countless conflicts worldwide, two major ones are the primary source of those feelings of fear. China has its sights on Taiwan, and Russia invaded Ukraine a little over a year ago.
As with all events, there are people on both sides of the issue. Take the Russia/Ukraine conflict as an example. Some believe we should stay and fight, while others believe we are depleting our reserves and rushing headlong into a global Armageddon. However, whether someone thinks the despotic Russian leader unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation or that the west inviting Ukraine into NATO is the reason for the daily atrocities, everyone undoubtedly has the same fears. But I contend that there is a fear we are overlooking that is much closer to home. While concern for world affairs rightfully grabs our attention, we should not overlook how far from God we are drifting.
The city of Sodom is known mainly for the story in Genesis 19. Lot is sitting at the city gate when two angels approach him. The hospitable man invites them to his home to refresh themselves and spend the night. Before they fell asleep, the men of Sodom came to Lot’s house with nefarious intentions. Gen. 19:5, “And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” One can only imagine Lot and his family’s fear as the men pounded on the door, demanding access to the two attractive visitors. Lot stood his ground, however, even offering his virgin daughters in place of the men. We can debate the issue of “throwing his daughters under the bus” another time but suffice for today to say I am sure Lot knew the answer before he asked the question.
When the men outside would not relent, the angels reacted in the following way – Gen. 19:11a, “And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great….” Lot is told to take his family and escape to the hills because God’s wrath will soon destroy Sodom as well as another city nearby. Gen. 19:24speaks of the terrible calamity that befell these two evil cities, “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Here is the point I am making this morning. If we allow pride and self-perceived sufficiency to move us from the presence of God, He will not hesitate to rain His righteous wrath on us, just as was done to not only Sodom but Gomorrah as well.
The good news is that for those who are faithful and flee from evil, escape from that judgment is assured. The bad news is that even if we escape and then look back, we may have to face the consequences of our backsliding. When we leave the city (sin), we must make every effort to only look forward, keeping our eyes on our eternal prize. Not doing so will cost us dearly according to scriptures like Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Is that not exactly what Lot’s wife did after they were explicitly told not to look back? Gen. 19:17, “…Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
I pray that we as a nation will come to our senses and flee that city before it is too late. I pray that we will do so with determination, setting our eyes on the ultimate prize before us. But I fear some, like the future husbands of Lot’s daughters, will scoff at us and remain in sin. I also fear that even being severely punished like the men who were struck blind by the angels some will be so steeped in sin that they will be unable to escape their sinful desires – Gen. 19:11, “And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.” I pray we don’t stay or don’t look back.
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